Instrument Engineer Jobs
Instrument Engineer jobs are open across oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, and manufacturing, covering specializations in process control, instrumentation design, and calibration, from entry-level to senior and lead roles. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 80+ Instrument Engineer jobs
POSITION SUMMARY
Capable of leading efforts of work in Instrumentation discipline for a total effort being directed by a project engineer or manager. Capable of working in a multi-discipline environment and possessing sound technical knowledge to execute projects independent of specific direction.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions Statement(s)
- Must perform all Instrumentation Engineer - Levels I & II roles, in addition to the following:
- Develop project design basis document.
- Responsible for development of discipline specific procedures, guidelines, etc.
- Coordinate discipline specific technical design activities and deliverables.
- Maintain / communicate overall project design criteria (discipline specific) with staff.
- Coordinating overall engineering & drafting efforts of specific discipline work scope.
- Establish and maintain discipline specific project deliverables.
- Manage completion of assigned action items.
- Assure timely delivery of project deliverables for specific discipline.
- Communicate project priorities, concerns to Project Manager / Engineer.
- Define drawing packages for entire systems.
- Develop and maintain discipline specific budget and budget variances.
- Provide budget information to Project Manager and staff.
- Develop and maintain discipline specific schedule.
- Provide input to staffing requirements for specific discipline.
- Training to help develop younger engineers
- Establish content of project reports.
- Responsible for checking of all project deliverables.
- Responsible for discipline specific interface with client.
- Work toward developing greater inter-discipline technical knowledge.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Competency Statement(s)
- Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions. Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
- Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
- Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
- Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the customers’ needs while following company procedures.
- Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
- Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.
- Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.
- Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
- Reliability - The trait of being dependable and trustworthy.
- Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.
- Assertiveness - Ability to act in a self-confident manner to facilitate completion of a work assignment or to defend a position or idea.
- Team Builder - Ability to convince a group of people to work toward a goal.
- Coaching and Development - Ability to provide guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas.
- Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers.
- Leadership - Ability to influence others to perform their jobs effectively and to be responsible for making decisions.
- Delegating Responsibility - Ability to allocate authority and/or task responsibility to appropriate people.
- Conflict Resolution - Ability to deal with others in an antagonistic situation.
- Change Management - Ability to encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Education: Bachelor's Degree (four year college or technical school): Required
Experience: 10+ years related experience
Computer Skills:
Certifications & Licenses: Registered P.E Preferred
Other Requirements:
POSITION SUMMARY
Capable of leading efforts of work in Instrumentation discipline for a total effort being directed by a project engineer or manager. Capable of working in a multi-discipline environment and possessing sound technical knowledge to execute projects independent of specific direction.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions Statement(s)
- Must perform all Instrumentation Engineer - Levels I & II roles, in addition to the following:
- Develop project design basis document.
- Responsible for development of discipline specific procedures, guidelines, etc.
- Coordinate discipline specific technical design activities and deliverables.
- Maintain / communicate overall project design criteria (discipline specific) with staff.
- Coordinating overall engineering & drafting efforts of specific discipline work scope.
- Establish and maintain discipline specific project deliverables.
- Manage completion of assigned action items.
- Assure timely delivery of project deliverables for specific discipline.
- Communicate project priorities, concerns to Project Manager / Engineer.
- Define drawing packages for entire systems.
- Develop and maintain discipline specific budget and budget variances.
- Provide budget information to Project Manager and staff.
- Develop and maintain discipline specific schedule.
- Provide input to staffing requirements for specific discipline.
- Training to help develop younger engineers
- Establish content of project reports.
- Responsible for checking of all project deliverables.
- Responsible for discipline specific interface with client.
- Work toward developing greater inter-discipline technical knowledge.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Competency Statement(s)
- Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions. Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
- Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
- Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
- Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the customers’ needs while following company procedures.
- Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
- Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.
- Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.
- Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
- Reliability - The trait of being dependable and trustworthy.
- Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.
- Assertiveness - Ability to act in a self-confident manner to facilitate completion of a work assignment or to defend a position or idea.
- Team Builder - Ability to convince a group of people to work toward a goal.
- Coaching and Development - Ability to provide guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas.
- Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers.
- Leadership - Ability to influence others to perform their jobs effectively and to be responsible for making decisions.
- Delegating Responsibility - Ability to allocate authority and/or task responsibility to appropriate people.
- Conflict Resolution - Ability to deal with others in an antagonistic situation.
- Change Management - Ability to encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Education: Bachelor's Degree (four year college or technical school): Required
Experience: 10+ years related experience
Computer Skills:
Certifications & Licenses: Registered P.E Preferred
Other Requirements:
See All 80 Instrument Engineer Jobs
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Find Instrument Engineer JobsInstrument Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Burns & McDonnell12
- Draper3
- Jacobs3
- Hargrove Engineers + Constructors3
- Arkema2
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Retail
- Sports & Recreation
- Agriculture & Farming
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in instrument engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or chemical engineering or a related field
- Experience with distributed control systems such as DCS and PLC platforms
- Proficiency reading and creating P&IDs and instrument loop diagrams
- Knowledge of ISA standards and instrumentation design practices
- Experience with field instrumentation including flow, pressure, temperature, and level devices
- Familiarity with functional safety standards such as IEC 61511 or SIL assessment
Tips for Your Instrument Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to control systems
List the specific distributed control systems and programmable logic controllers you have configured, not just generic 'controls experience.' Hiring managers scan for exact platform names, so naming your hands-on systems moves your resume past initial screening faster.
Highlight your P&ID and loop diagram work
Many instrument engineer postings filter for candidates who can read and mark up piping and instrumentation diagrams. Calling out specific projects where you developed or reviewed these documents tells reviewers you can hit the ground running without close supervision.
Pursue a relevant instrumentation certification
A Certified Automation Professional or Certified Control Systems Technician credential from ISA signals formal competency beyond your degree. Employers in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals treat these credentials as differentiators when two candidates look otherwise equal on paper.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists instrument engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for functional safety questions
Expect interviewers at process-heavy sites to probe your knowledge of SIL ratings, safety instrumented systems, and IEC 61511. Even if the job posting does not lead with safety, facilities running hazardous processes consider this knowledge non-negotiable at the mid-level and above.
Negotiate scope alongside compensation
When you receive an offer, ask which projects you will own from FEED through commissioning, not just your title and pay. Instrument engineers whose offers include design authority over a full project cycle gain experience that compounds into stronger leverage at your next role.
Instrument Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most instrument engineers?
Burns & McDonnell, Draper, and Jacobs are hiring the most instrument engineers right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, California, and Louisiana, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Activity tends to be highest at engineering procurement and construction firms and large energy operators running active capital projects.
How many instrument engineer jobs are remote?
About 44% of instrument engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most instrumentation work. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements are front-end engineering design, instrumentation standards development, and project engineering roles that do not require regular site visits.
How do you become an instrument engineer?
Start with a bachelor's degree in electrical, chemical, or mechanical engineering, as these provide the core foundation for instrumentation and control work. Build hands-on experience through internships or entry-level roles in process plants or field service. Develop fluency in a major DCS or PLC platform, learn to work with P&IDs and instrument datasheets, and pursue an ISA certification once you have field exposure to formalize your credentials.
How can you get hired as an instrument engineer with little experience?
Focus on roles titled instrument or controls engineer in training, junior process control engineer, or field instrumentation technician, as these are structured for candidates early in their careers. Demonstrate hands-on exposure to any DCS or PLC platform, even from coursework or a student project. Employers in EPC firms and utilities often hire entry-level candidates who show strong fundamentals in loop tuning, sensor selection, and reading technical drawings.
What does the instrument engineer interview process look like?
Most processes begin with a recruiter or HR screen covering your background and the specific systems you have worked with. A technical interview follows, often including questions on control loop fundamentals, instrumentation selection, and functional safety concepts. Some employers add a practical exercise such as reviewing a P&ID for errors or sizing a control valve. Final rounds typically involve the hiring manager and a project or discipline lead assessing your judgment on real design decisions.
Where can I find and apply to instrument engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to instrument engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the available roles to find positions that match your background, then apply directly to each listing that fits your experience and location preferences.
See All 80 Instrument Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Instrument Engineer Jobs