How to hire an electrical & instrumentation designer

How to hire an electrical & instrumentation designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step electrical & instrumentation designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an electrical & instrumentation designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new electrical & instrumentation designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your electrical & instrumentation designer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an electrical & instrumentation designer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an electrical & instrumentation designer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an electrical & instrumentation designer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of electrical & instrumentation designers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Electrical & Instrumentation Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical & Instrumentation Designer	Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).	$28-52
   Field Engineer	A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely... Show more	$24-47
   Outside Plant Engineer	The job of an outside plant engineer revolves around design, constructing, and maintaining plant infrastructure, engineering, and conducting route analysis of aerial and underground fiber-optic installations. Typical day-to-day duties include assisting clients in resolving issues when they arise, developing engineering plans, schedules, and costs relevant to the projects, and providing guidance on telecommunication issues... Show more	$29-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PLC
   • Instrumentation Design
   • Control Systems
   • I/O
   • Electrical Design
   • Panel Layouts
   • DCS
   • Oil Gas
   • Electrical Systems
   • Design Packages
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Refinery
   • Auto CAD
   • IDS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
   • Modify chemical process areas with new control installations, utilizing various DCS's, and PLC's on these projects.
   • Work in PDMS creating instruments, cable tray routing, locating junction boxes, remote I/O cabinets, and lighting.
   • Work include modification of existing instrument panels to accept PLC & DCS racks and wiring; update pneumatic instrumentation to electronics.
   • Develop new instrument installation detail drawings, instrument location plan drawings, instrument elevation drawings and loop diagrams for the refinery.
   • Design process plant instrumentation and electrical power systems within NEC and industry standards.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrical & instrumentation designer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An electrical & instrumentation designer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, electrical & instrumentation designers' average salary in montana is 33% less than in texas.
   • Seniority. Entry-level electrical & instrumentation designers earn 45% less than senior-level electrical & instrumentation designers.
   • Certifications. An electrical & instrumentation designer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an electrical & instrumentation designer's salary.

   Average electrical & instrumentation designer salary

   $81,188yearly

   $39.03 hourly rate

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   Entry-level electrical & instrumentation designer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

4. Writing an electrical & instrumentation designer job description

   A job description for an electrical & instrumentation designer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an electrical & instrumentation designer job description:

   Electrical & instrumentation designer job description example

   Job Description and Qualifications
   
   Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: APD), a Fortune 500 manufacturer of industrial gases, has an immediate opening for an experienced Instrumentation Designer.
   
   You will be a member of a Global Engineering organization. The Global Engineering organization provides functional engineering support to Product Lines for both Product development and proposal development work. You will be responsible for designing/drafting/ checking, BOM's, change management, part specification, drawing revision records, compliance to APCI standards, standard design creation and reuse, and document control. You will gather information from multiple sources including other disciplines, vendors, engineers, reference drawings and catalogs to produce complete functional, accurate and constructible design packages. In addition, this role includes developing detailed job plans and Standards to aide in day-to-day activities.
   
   Excellent communication and leadership skills along with knowledge of Instrumentation Design and the National Electrical Code are required to excel in this position.
   
   Principal Accountabilities:
   
   * Assemble Basic Project Design details and hand over and lead a secondary group of Instrument Designers to execute the Detailed Design.
   * Work together with Instrument Designers in various regions.
   * Create and design a complete construction/build package meeting the requirements of a project scope document using P&ID, I/O list, and shut down table.
   * Such packages may include:
   * Instrument Locations.
   * Control room, Analyzer, and Loading building layout and design.
   * Single lines diagrams.
   * Cable sizing for instrumentation and low voltage wiring.
   * Cable tray layout and sizing for instrumentation and low voltage wiring.
   * Field inspection of plant sites and equipment.
   * 24VDC schematics for power, control and shutdown circuits. 120VAC schematics for power and control.
   * DCS panel, PLC panel, junction box, and control layout and schematics.
   * Design of communication systems using, fiber optic cables, profibus and/or Ethernet.
   * AC and DC interconnects as well as conduit and cable schedules.
   * Instrument loop diagrams.
   * Safe installation of vendor supplied systems.
   * Travel to field locations and provide technical services for activities related to construction, equipment installation or plant modifications.
   * Ensure inherent process safety is adhered to on all projects.
   * Execute projects safely, within the budget and on schedule.
   * Ensure all projects meet the operability needs of the customer.
   
   Qualifications / Requirements:
   
   This is a technical position and requires basic knowledge of electricity. You will need a working knowledge of the National Electric Code (NFPA 70), National Electric Safety Code (NFPA 70E), NEMA standards, and some IEC symbology.
   
   * Associate degree in Instrument or Electrical Design from an accredited University or Trade School or equivalent work experience.
   * 5-7 years' experience in the industrial Electrical and/or Instrumentation design field.
   * approximately 10% travel to facilities and other sites.
   * Computer/CAD skills which include:
   * Microsoft Office
   * MicroStation, MicroStationV7-V8, MicroStation Reprographics, AutoCAD and/or equivalent software
   * SmartPlant 3D or equivalent 3D software
   * Analytical experience is a plus.
   * Instrumentation applications in Wet/Dry Gas service is a plus
   * Knowledge of Electrically Classified Areas is a plus.
   * Manufacturing plant operations, maintenance, and construction knowledge a plus.
   * Have high ethical standards - unwilling to compromise on worker safety and regulatory compliance requirements.
   * Highly motivated individual that can work productively in a self-directed manner with minimum supervision.
   * Able to adapt to and thrive in a fluid environment where priorities and directions may change regularly.
   * Open to continuous improvement with a passion for continual development and learning.
   * The ideal candidate must have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all levels of the organization.
   * Possess strong organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills.
   
   At Air Products, we work in an environment where diversity is essential, inclusion is our culture, and each person knows they belong and matter. To learn more, visit About Air Products.
   
   We offer a comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays and vacation, affordable medical, dental, life insurance and retirement plans. You will be eligible for benefits and also be 100% vested in your retirement benefits on your first day of employment.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (U.S.). You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, citizenship, gender, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or veteran status.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right electrical & instrumentation designer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your electrical & instrumentation designer job on Zippia to find and recruit electrical & instrumentation designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit electrical & instrumentation designers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new electrical & instrumentation designer

   Once you've decided on a perfect electrical & instrumentation designer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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