Field Service Engineer at Varian Medical Systems
Active-duty Reservist translates his high-pressure combat experience and technical skills into a rewarding civilian career.
By Warren Duffie 

Matthew Dowling understands on-the-job pressure. While in Iraq, he was responsible for fixing and maintaining pumps, X-ray machines, compressors, defibrillators and other medical equipment that kept wounded soldiers alive. If one of these life-saving mechanisms failed, Dowling had to get it operational again as soon as possible.

“Combat is a high-stress situation,” said the Army Reservist. “People’s lives depended on my ability to keep equipment operational. In a way, my civilian job is just as important.” 

On the Job
Dowling, 25, is a field service engineer with Varian Medical Systems – a leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions.

The staff sergeant works in Varian’s oncology department and takes care of medical linear accelerators at medical centers and hospitals throughout Maine. Each linear accelerator treats cancerous tumors by shooting large doses of radiation at them.

As Varian’s lone Maine engineer, Dowling works from 0800 to 1700 – though he has sometimes received client calls at 0600 and 2000.

“Each day is different on this job,” he said. “The length of my workday depends on how many calls I receive and how long each takes. Sometimes a problem can be fixed with a phone call or I’ll have to visit a customer site. Some jobs take an hour while others take all day. Some days I’ll work from my home office and other days will see me put 300 miles on my car.

“These linear accelerators are so complex that I’ll rarely see one suffer from the same problem twice,” Dowling continued. “The main problem I usually handle deals with the circuitry system that shapes and targets the radiation beams. It’s an intricate system requiring regular attention.” 

In Uniform
Dowling enlisted in the Army Reserve after graduating from high school in 2004. After basic training, he was trained as a biomedical equipment technician (68 Alpha) at Sheppard Air Force Base. From 2004 to 2010, he was on active reserve duty, serving in Iraq and Massachusetts. 

The Transition
By 2010, Dowling was preparing to leave active service and began thinking about his civilian career prospects.

“My biggest fear was not finding a job that fit my skill set,” he said. “I wanted to stay in the medical field as a technician. I had all this specialized training and didn’t want to shift to something like fixing cars.”

Over the years, Dowling had worked with many Varian employees. One contact told him about the engineer opening in Maine and encouraged him to apply. Over the following month, Dowling endured several interviews and a background check before being hired in early 2010.

“I was lucky that I sort of fell into this job,” Dowling said. “Varian really appealed to me because it’s very veteran friendly and, through the linear accelerator, allows me to work on one of the most complex pieces of medical equipment out there.

“Looking back on my transition, I would have done a couple of things differently,” he continued. “I would have researched the job market better and would have tailored my résumé differently. I would have worked with a professional résumé writer to create the best résumé possible. I advise everyone to do so.” 

Dowling’s Advice
Do your homework. “Research the job market thoroughly. Look at career opportunities for your particular skills set.” 

Prepare a good résumé. “Get a professional to help you. Have friends and colleagues look at your résumé and offer tips.” 

Invest in good suits, shirts and shoes. “You need to look the role. Dress a level above the job you’re actually applying for.” 

How’d You Get That Job?
By 2010, Dowling was preparing to leave active service and began thinking about his civilian career prospects.

“My biggest fear was not finding a job that fit my skill set,” he said. “I wanted to stay in the medical field as a technician. I had all this specialized training and didn’t want to shift to something like fixing cars.”

Over the years, Dowling had worked with many Varian employees. One contact told him about the engineer opening in Maine and encouraged him to apply. Over the following month, Dowling had several interviews and a background check before being hired in early 2010.

What Dowling Likes About His Job

• Working in a field where I can apply my military skill set.
• The chance to work on complex medical equipment.

www.gijobs.com/varian