Career guidance advice please

The best answer is probably to follow your heart/passion.
Having done field service work in the past, the downside is traveling. It gets old fast.
I have also been given the third degree of interrogation by security many times by having wiring and electronic boards in my suitcase and that was pre-9-11.

The development job sounds like it may be more rewarding than the other, where you'd probably be routine replacing mosfets and eating carry out food in a hotel room.

 

You aren't giving us much to work on, for this kind of question. You mention that you have "two job offers in the USA", which would make me think you're immigrating from another country, but your profile indicates you're already in the USA. In any case, it sounds like you're moving to whichever job you select. Location is definitely a factor in choosing unless both offers are are in the same neighborhood...? How are the housing prospects different between your choices? Does one have a substantially shorter commute? Are you married with children, so are differences in schools a concern? Is one job in the heart of a city and the other in a suburban industrial park, or other? Commuting into a city can be a daily grind over and above a non-urban commute.

In short, it's rare that all other factors than the job itself are equal, so it can be hard to give meaningful advice.

That being said: While I don't disagree with Tha fios agaibh about the traveling getting old fast, the upside of field service work is that you move around all day and it's physically healthier in the long run. Office work in a chair 8-10 hours/day isn't healthy. I partly credit my career as a field service tech to the fact that I'm in my 70's and I can still climb trees and don't need meds to stay alive.

Downside: You have to drive in all kinds of foul whether and will occasionally get wet and/or cold between vehicle and doors.
Upside: You get to be outside in good weather. I happen to enjoy that, but it's not for everybody. Again, location could be a factor.

Downside: you have to deal directly with irate customers.
Upside: You get to meet a lot of nice people too.

Downside: You're sometimes on your own out there.
Upside: You don't have a boss looking over your shoulder, and get to work on your own.

All other things equal, i.e., no wife/children/location to consider, I agree with Tha fios agaibh: The best answer is probably to follow your heart/passion.

 

I would say the question comes down to:

Would you rather do repair work or design work?

Bob

 

Seems like if you want to do more design work #2 is definitely down your alley. Typically, over time, these type of positions pay more because you're "making the thing" rather than servicing it. This seems more of a traditional engineering role compared to #1.

If you have lots more joy fixing things and figuring out what's wrong with them when they're broken, then #1 would be the place to be. Also #1 looks like more travel will be required. If you're young and without a family it may be a bit more exciting and fun.

In either case, the cool thing is you can always change what you're doing if either of these don't pan out. In either case, strive to learn as much as possible and stack your skills that you can take and bring to your next job.