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What does an instrumentation & control engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does an instrumentation & control engineer do

An instrumentation and control engineer is responsible for installing and designing technical components for engineering systems that would support production and manufacturing processes. Instrumentation and control engineers inspect control systems, modify features and infrastructure, configure controllers, and run multiple quality checks to ensure stability and optimal performance. They must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in developing system codes and analyzing programming languages to serve control functions and development. An instrumentation and control engineer also resolves system issues and write resolution reports for reference.

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Instrumentation & control engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real instrumentation & control engineer resumes:

  • Write and track purchase requisitions for parts and contract work then manage all contractors for electrical and HVAC work to completion.
  • Lead the development of smarter controls utilizing DeviceNet and Profibus architecture.
  • Develop control logic flow sheets, control loops, functional descriptions of control strategy, PLC programming and HMI configurations etc.
  • Land navigation with GPS, compass and maps.
  • Test HMI and ladder logic programming for functional approval.
  • Insure instruments meet or exceed the SIL rating of use.
  • Utilize Allen Bradley electronics and HMI to control this portable system.
  • General facility (electrical) maintenance, including commercial HVAC systems.
  • Maintain proper installation and handling of I/O cards in the instrument panels.
  • Generate loop and I/O diagrams and installation details, and write scope of work.
  • Oversee and review deliverables of EPC contractors (such as Tecnimont and Udhe).
  • Record and check control valve response chart with respect to the controller in the DCS.
  • Mentore and teach young engineers, designers and cad operators in design package content and layout.
  • Design control system upgrades to enhance automaton, reliability, and safety including Siemens PCS7 and Allen-Bradley SLC500.
  • Perform calculations using formulas for instruments confirming range for safe areas, and/or hazardous areas following ISO procedures.

Instrumentation & control engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of Instrumentation & Control Engineers are proficient in PLC, HMI, and SCADA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration, Initiative, and Math skills.

We break down the percentage of Instrumentation & Control Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PLC, 13%

    Project Manager performed several small projects for a pulp/paper mill involving PLC modifications.

  • HMI, 8%

    Instrument & Controls Project Engineer Design & Implement all types of system integration utilizing various HMI, SCADA software platforms.

  • SCADA, 5%

    Designed cabling diagrams for SCADA control and monitoring interconnections.

  • Process Control, 5%

    Install process control/safeguarding and automation system.

  • Autocad, 4%

    Prepared electrical and control drawings with specifications using AutoCAD.

  • Engineering Design, 4%

    Preformed exceptional preliminary engineering designs that promoted a smooth transition within the project kick off and execution stage.

"plc," "hmi," and "scada" are among the most common skills that instrumentation & control engineers use at work. You can find even more instrumentation & control engineer responsibilities below, including:

Concentration. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an instrumentation & control engineer to have is concentration. Their role and responsibilities require that "electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products." Instrumentation & control engineers often use concentration in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "performed all dcs point configuration and graphics building for the fccu and gas concentration units. "

Initiative. Another essential skill to perform instrumentation & control engineer duties is initiative. Instrumentation & control engineers responsibilities require that "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Instrumentation & control engineers also use initiative in their role according to a real resume snippet: "managed purchasing and planning commodity using continuous improvement initiatives to reduce lead time and increase efficiencies. "

Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of instrumentation & control engineers is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday instrumentation & control engineer duties, as "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "developed math algorithms for plc/dcs platforms for new or complex applications related to rotating equipment. "

Speaking skills. A big part of what instrumentation & control engineers do relies on "speaking skills." You can see how essential it is to instrumentation & control engineer responsibilities because "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical instrumentation & control engineer tasks: "presented experiment designs at nasa and esa design reviews. "

Writing skills. Another common skill required for instrumentation & control engineer responsibilities is "writing skills." This skill comes up in the duties of instrumentation & control engineers all the time, as "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." An excerpt from a real instrumentation & control engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what an instrumentation & control engineer does: "analyzed and configured oracle server writing sql programs"

All instrumentation & control engineer skills

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Compare different instrumentation & control engineers

Instrumentation & control engineer vs. Senior electrical designer

A Senior Electrical Designer is in charge of creating electrical schematics, layouts, and other grid plans for their organization, as well as providing the best solution for improvements. They supervise the material, construction, labor costs, and project timescales.

If we compare the average instrumentation & control engineer annual salary with that of a senior electrical designer, we find that senior electrical designers typically earn a $4,605 lower salary than instrumentation & control engineers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between instrumentation & control engineers and senior electrical designers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like plc, hmi, and p id.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between instrumentation & control engineers and senior electrical designer. For instance, instrumentation & control engineer responsibilities require skills such as "scada," "process control," "autocad," and "start-up." Whereas a senior electrical designer is skilled in "electrical design," "revit," "autocad electrical," and "construction drawings." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Senior electrical designers earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $90,234. On the other hand, instrumentation & control engineers are paid more in the energy industry with an average salary of $98,177.senior electrical designers tend to reach lower levels of education than instrumentation & control engineers. In fact, senior electrical designers are 5.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Instrumentation & control engineer vs. Electrical designer

An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.

On average, electrical designers earn a $27,534 lower salary than instrumentation & control engineers a year.A few skills overlap for instrumentation & control engineers and electrical designers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "plc," "hmi," and "scada. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real instrumentation & control engineer resumes. While instrumentation & control engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "process control," "start-up," "c design," and "logic diagrams," electrical designers use skills like "revit," "electrical design," "autocad electrical," and "ul."

On average, electrical designers earn a lower salary than instrumentation & control engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, electrical designers earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $72,768. Whereas instrumentation & control engineers have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $98,177.In general, electrical designers achieve lower levels of education than instrumentation & control engineers. They're 5.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Instrumentation & control engineer vs. Engineer

Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.

On average scale, engineers bring in lower salaries than instrumentation & control engineers. In fact, they earn a $387 lower salary per year.instrumentation & control engineers and engineers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "plc," "p id," and "hmi programming," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from instrumentation & control engineer resumes include skills like "hmi," "scada," "process control," and "autocad," whereas an engineer is more likely to list skills in "python," "cloud," "c++," and "c #. "

Engineers earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $97,672. Comparatively, instrumentation & control engineers have the highest earning potential in the energy industry, with an average salary of $98,177.When it comes to education, engineers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to instrumentation & control engineers. In fact, they're 2.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Instrumentation & control engineer vs. Electrical engineer internship

The electrical engineer internship offers tasks to undergraduate engineering students related to electrical systems analysis and branch circuiting, site investigations, lighting calculations, and design drawings by complementing theoretical knowledge with practical duties on the job to gain experience and increase marketability. Through the internship, the undergraduate engineering students may develop professional aptitude, strengthen their character, and may increase their confidence in their work as it prepares them for what to expect in their field.

Electrical engineer interns typically earn lower pay than instrumentation & control engineers. On average, electrical engineer interns earn a $29,066 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, instrumentation & control engineers and electrical engineer interns both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "plc," "hmi," and "p id. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between instrumentation & control engineers and electrical engineer interns, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an instrumentation & control engineer might have more use for skills like "scada," "process control," "autocad," and "engineering design." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of electrical engineer interns require skills like "c++," "c #," "analog," and "revit. "

In general, electrical engineer interns earn the most working in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $66,132. The highest-paying industry for an instrumentation & control engineer is the energy industry.The average resume of electrical engineer interns showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to instrumentation & control engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.5%.

Types of instrumentation & control engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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