What does a senior instrumentation and control engineer do?
As a senior instrumentation and control engineer, you have to design and develop the machines. The better you do this, the better the production process of the company gets. Your role is to assist in the effective use of the instruments. This will ensure that the production process of the company is smooth without any kind of issues. You also need to have great engineering skills so that you can propose new technology and machinery to the company from time to time.
Moreover, you need to create excellent HMI graphics, which are needed for instrumentation. Critical thinking skills are very necessary when it comes to this part of the job. Your job is also to make sure that all the processes of instrumentation are properly controlled, and the machinery of the company is operating effectively and efficiently.
Senior instrumentation and control engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior instrumentation and control engineer resumes:
- Lead the development of smarter controls utilizing DeviceNet and Profibus architecture.
- Design authority engineer for software changes to DeltaV, DCS and Allen Bradley PLC systems for facility closure projects.
- Develop HMI graphics that are implemented by GE.
- Calibrate, tune and test PID loops and controllers.
- Spec' out all instrumentation, redesign the control system, upgrade existing DCS Honeywell to TDC-3000.
- Perform configuration of the Gould-Modicon 984 PLC for the project, and complete the PLC check out.
- Develop control strategy, software, and protocols for the validation and commissioning of new DCS system and equipment upgrades.
- Design and analysis of the control of electronic power steering systems using dynamic system modeling and simulation in Stateflow and Simulink.
- Add pop-up windows and text for additional graphical description of operational details.
Senior instrumentation and control engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Senior Instrumentation And Control Engineers are proficient in PLC, SCADA, and HMI. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration, Math skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Instrumentation And Control Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- PLC, 14%
Performed configuration of the Gould-Modicon 984 PLC for the project, and completed the PLC check out.
- SCADA, 9%
Demonstrated to SHELL client and Implementation of all Signals in SCADA for Delta System at IFAT along with EMERSON and ABB.
- HMI, 7%
Developed HMI graphics that were implemented by GE.
- Control Systems, 7%
Specified, designed, installed and modified process control systems in direct support of commercial manufacturing operations.
- DCS, 5%
Developed control strategy, software, and protocols for the validation and commissioning of new DCS system and equipment upgrades.
- C Design, 4%
Prepared technical reports related to specific design issues.
"plc," "scada," and "hmi" are among the most common skills that senior instrumentation and control engineers use at work. You can find even more senior instrumentation and control engineer responsibilities below, including:
Concentration. One of the key soft skills for a senior instrumentation and control engineer to have is concentration. You can see how this relates to what senior instrumentation and control engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products." Additionally, a senior instrumentation and control engineer resume shows how senior instrumentation and control engineers use concentration: "performed all dcs point configuration and graphics building for the fccu and gas concentration units. "
Math skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior instrumentation and control engineer duties is math skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." According to a senior instrumentation and control engineer resume, here's how senior instrumentation and control engineers can utilize math skills in their job responsibilities: "write embedded c code for complex math operations to run in ge fanuc 90-30 plc s. E.g. "
Speaking skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of senior instrumentation and control engineers is speaking skills. This skill is critical to many everyday senior instrumentation and control engineer duties, as "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "prepared and presented cutover plans for #1 reformer dcs upgrade project. "
Writing skills. A big part of what senior instrumentation and control engineers do relies on "writing skills." You can see how essential it is to senior instrumentation and control engineer responsibilities because "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." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior instrumentation and control engineer tasks: "analyzed and configured oracle server writing sql programs"
The three companies that hire the most senior instrumentation and control engineers are:
- Burns & McDonnell31 senior instrumentation and control engineers jobs
- Sargent & Lundy28 senior instrumentation and control engineers jobs
- Carollo Engineers14 senior instrumentation and control engineers jobs
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Senior instrumentation and 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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior instrumentation and control engineer are more likely to require skills like "scada," "hmi," "dcs," and "c design." On the other hand, a job as an engineer requires skills like "python," "cloud," "c++," and "c #." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Engineers really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $97,672. Comparatively, senior instrumentation and control engineers tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $112,165.On average, engineers reach similar levels of education than senior instrumentation and control engineers. Engineers are 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior instrumentation and 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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior instrumentation and control engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "c design," "architecture," "process control," and "factory acceptance." Meanwhile, an electrical designer has duties that require skills in areas such as "revit," "electrical design," "autocad electrical," and "ul." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Electrical designers earn a lower average salary than senior instrumentation and control engineers. But electrical designers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $72,768. Additionally, senior instrumentation and control engineers earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $112,165 annually.electrical designers earn lower levels of education than senior instrumentation and control engineers in general. They're 7.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior instrumentation and 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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior instrumentation and control engineers are more likely to have skills like "scada," "c design," "engineering design," and "architecture." But a electrical engineer internship is more likely to have skills like "c++," "c #," "analog," and "revit."
Electrical engineer interns earn the highest salary when working in the hospitality industry, where they receive an average salary of $66,132. Comparatively, senior instrumentation and control engineers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $112,165.electrical engineer interns typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior instrumentation and control engineers. Specifically, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior instrumentation and control engineer vs. 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. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior instrumentation and control engineers and field engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior instrumentation and control engineer might have more use for skills like "scada," "hmi," "dcs," and "c design." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of field engineers require skills like "customer service," "customer satisfaction," "project management," and "azure. "
Field engineers enjoy the best pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $83,650. For comparison, senior instrumentation and control engineers earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.The average resume of field engineers showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to senior instrumentation and control engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 5.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.Types of senior instrumentation and control engineer
Updated January 8, 2025











