Warfel’s pool of Field Engineers and Project Engineers make up our entry-level project management talent that is vital to the growth of our organization. These team members are the pipeline of talent that will fill a multitude of roles as they gain experience. Our goal is to expose our entry-level engineers to the depth of experienced construction knowledge in the field, while also making sure they see the broad opportunities available in departments throughout the office.
If an individual joins us right out of college or as an entry-level employee in the industry, they start in our Field Engineer position. Field Engineers spend most of their time on a jobsite, with our field staff, seeing construction progressing every day and assisting in coordinating trade partners, tracking materials, checking deliveries, reviewing quality, and assisting with schedule management. This field experience lays the foundation for an entry-level engineer to understand the nuances of the construction industry and builds a framework for success in future roles as they grow throughout their construction career.
Spending every day on the jobsite and helping teammates manage the construction process leads some Field Engineers to pursue a career path that allows them to stay in field management. The next step after Field Engineer is the Assistant Superintendent role and eventually, after many years of experience, progression to a Superintendent role to oversee the project from the highest level of authority in the field. Having Superintendents run our projects who began their careers in entry-level Field Engineer positions allows us to train on our processes and procedures as individuals grow and ensure we are passing down knowledge and experience from seasoned Superintendents over many years.
Another option for the Field Engineer is to explore various roles in the office, as some individuals are interested in contributing to a construction project from a wide-lens, rather than being entrenched in the day-to-day requirements. In the office, Field Engineers can move into a Project Engineer role acting as an assistant project manager. With enough experience and proven management of finances, people, and technical components, the step after that is a Project Manager role. This training occurs internally and is not a prerequisite for the career path. Field Engineers also gain valuable jobsite experience to pursue roles in Preconstruction, Virtual Design and Construction, or Safety. Exposure to these departments is provided during our internship program and Field Engineer programming. Understanding how work is installed onsite and coordinated and managed with trades provides a foundation for moving into other departments successfully.
Engineering roles in the construction industry are far-reaching and require an individual to have excellent problem-solving skills, be willing to ask questions, and be able to work as part of a team. At Warfel, it is also vital that an individual uphold our company Core Values and live out our mission of Clients for Life in daily decisions.
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