Science & ResearchISCO 2152
Instrumentation engineer
An instrumentation engineer is a person who plans and designs the equipment used in manufacturing processes to control and monitor them remotely.
Check yourself in a minute: instrumentation engineer
Rate 5 of the 24 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
perform data analysis
adjust engineering designs
analyse big data
perform scientific research
use remote control equipment
About instrumentation engineer
In instrumentation engineering, the engineer first establishes what has to be measured and to what accuracy and selects temperature, pressure, flow and level sensors, transmitters, control valves and controllers, and then develops the instrumentation system: where the measuring points sit, how the signals run, power supply and protection. Design drawings and instrumentation diagrams are produced, and installation on site follows them.
Drawing on engineering principles, mathematics and automation technology, the engineer calculates measuring ranges, sets controller parameters and checks that a loop will not start oscillating when the process changes load. Remotely controlled devices are used as well.
Once a plant is running, the engineer analyses its data: reading the records from the system, comparing them with the design assumptions, and pointing to where a measurement is wrong or a control loop is working at its limit. The engineer also knows environmental law, which applies to the production plants being monitored.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a instrumentation engineer.
1
Design Control Systems
- Develop technical specifications for instrumentation systems based on process requirements
- Create detailed design drawings and schematics using CAD software
- Select and specify appropriate sensors, transmitters, and control devices
- Design signal processing and data acquisition systems
2
Select and Integrate Instrumentation
- Evaluate and recommend industrial sensors and measurement instruments
- Integrate instrumentation with programmable logic controllers and industrial computers
- Specify communication protocols and networking requirements
- Ensure compatibility between different system components
3
Test and Calibrate Systems
- Conduct functional testing of instrumentation systems before deployment
- Calibrate instruments to ensure accuracy and compliance with standards
- Verify system performance against design specifications
- Document test results and create commissioning reports
4
Collaborate with Manufacturing Teams
- Meet with production managers and operators to understand process control needs
- Provide technical support during system implementation and training
- Troubleshoot system issues and optimize performance based on operational feedback
- Document system operation and maintenance procedures
5
Maintain Technical Documentation
- Create and update system documentation and design files
- Maintain equipment inventories and component specifications
- Record modifications and improvements to existing systems
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (24)
instrumentation equipmentinstrumentation equipmentThe equipment and instruments used for the monitoring and controlling of processes, such as valves, regulators, circuit breakers, and relays.electricity principleselectricity principlesElectricity is created when electric current flows along a conductor. It entails the movement of free electrons between atoms. The more free electrons are present in a material, the better this materi...engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.design drawingsdesign drawingsThe drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.mathematicsmathematicsMathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to pr...control systemscontrol systemsDevices or a set of devices that command and manage the performance and behaviour of other equipment and systems. This includes Industrial control systems (ICS) which are used for industrial productio...physicsphysicsThe natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.environmental legislationenvironmental legislationThe environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.environmental threatsenvironmental threatsThe threats for the environment which are related to biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological, and physical hazards.electronicselectronicsThe functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications.electricityelectricityThe principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.perform data analysisperform data analysisCollect data and statistics to test and evaluate in order to generate assertions and pattern predictions, with the aim of discovering useful information in a decision-making process.adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.analyse big dataanalyse big dataCollect and evaluate numerical data in large quantities, especially for the purpose of identifying patterns between the data.perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.use remote control equipmentuse remote control equipmentUse a remote control to operate equipment. Watch the equipment closely while operating, and use any sensors or cameras to guide your actions.test sensorstest sensorsTest sensors using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.abide by regulations on banned materialsabide by regulations on banned materialsComply with regulations banning heavy metals in solder, flame retardants in plastics, and phthalate plasticisers in plastics and wiring harness insulations, under EU RoHS/WEEE Directives and China RoH...use specific data analysis softwareuse specific data analysis softwareUse specific software for data analysis, including statistics, spreadsheets, and databases. Explore possibilities in order to make reports to managers, superiors, or clients.design control systemsdesign control systemsDevelop devices that command and manage the behaviour of other devices and systems, using engineering and electronics principles.execute feasibility studyexecute feasibility studyPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the p...develop instrumentation systemsdevelop instrumentation systemsDevelop control equipment, such as valves, relays, and regulators, which can be used to monitor and control processes. Test the developed equipment.approve engineering designapprove engineering designGive consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.automation technologyautomation technologySet of technologies that make a process, system, or apparatus operate automatically through the use of control systems.
Optional (42) — show
marine engineeringmarine engineeringThe engineering discipline that studies the design, operation and maintenance of watercraft propulsion and on-board systems. It also addresses the design and construction of fixed and floating marine ...data miningdata miningThe methods of artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics and databases used to extract content from a dataset.manufacturing processesmanufacturing processesThe steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.engineering control theoryengineering control theoryThe interdisciplinary branch of engineering that deals with the behaviour of dynamical systems with inputs and how their behaviour is modified by feedback.design principlesdesign principlesThe elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.project managementproject managementThe discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.power plant instrumentationpower plant instrumentationThe equipment and instruments used for the monitoring and controlling processes in power plants. This requires proper operation, calibration, and regular maintenance.nuclear energynuclear energyThe generation of electrical energy through the use of nuclear reactors, by converting the energy released from nuclei of atoms in reactors which generate heat. This heat subsequently generates steam ...offshore constructions and facilitiesoffshore constructions and facilitiesStructures and facilities installed in a marine environment, usually for the production and transmission of electricity, oil, gas and other resources.CAD softwareCAD softwareThe computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.data storagedata storageThe physical and technical concepts of how digital data storage is organised in specific schemes both locally, such as hard-drives and random-access memories (RAM) and remotely, via network, internet ...offshore renewable energy technologiesoffshore renewable energy technologiesThe different technologies used to implement the marine renewable energy to an increasing degree, such as wind, wave and tidal turbines, floating photovoltaics, hydrocratic generators and ocean therma...cloud technologiescloud technologiesThe technologies which enable access to hardware, software, data and services through remote servers and software networks irrespective of their location and architecture.product data managementproduct data managementThe use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.marine technologymarine technologyTechnologies for the safe use, exploitation, protection of, and intervention in the marine environment.mechanicsmechanicsTheoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.inspect offshore constructionsinspect offshore constructionsConduct regular inspections during and after the construction of offshore facilities such as oil platforms to ensure risk minimisation and compliance with regulations.record test datarecord test dataRecord data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptiona...create software designcreate software designTranspose a series of requirements into a clear and organised software design.conduct quality control analysisconduct quality control analysisConduct inspections and tests of services, processes, or products to evaluate quality.perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...use technical drawing softwareuse technical drawing softwareCreate technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.oversee pre-assembly operationsoversee pre-assembly operationsOrganise and oversee the arrangements preceding the assembly of manufactured products, mostly taking place in factories, including their installation in assembling locations such as construction sites...manage instrumentation systemsmanage instrumentation systemsSet up, adjust, operate and maintain instrumentation systems. Process and analyse data, and present research results.define quality standardsdefine quality standardsDefine, in collaboration with managers and quality experts, a set of quality standards to ensure compliance with regulations and help achieve customers' requirements.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.utilise machine learningutilise machine learningUse techniques and algorithms that are able to extract mastery out of data, learn from it and make predictions, to be used for program optimisation, application adaptation, pattern recognition, filter...write work-related reportswrite work-related reportsCompose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligib...supervise staffsupervise staffOversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.carry out work-related measurementscarry out work-related measurementsUse suitable units, tools and equipment to carry out calculations for length, area, volume, weight, time, geometric shapes and sketches.use CAD softwareuse CAD softwareUse computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.design prototypesdesign prototypesDesign prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.design microelectromechanical systemsdesign microelectromechanical systemsDesign and develop microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), such as microsensing devices. Make a model and a simulation using technical design software to assess the viability of the product and examine...perform project managementperform project managementManage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific g...manage system testingmanage system testingSelect, perform and track testings on software or hardware to detect system defects both within the integrated system units, the inter-assemblages and the system as a whole. Organise testings such as ...apply health and safety standardsapply health and safety standardsAdhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.utilise decision support systemutilise decision support systemUse the available ICT systems that can be used to support business or organisational decision making.assess financial viabilityassess financial viabilityRevise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Asse...develop test proceduresdevelop test proceduresDevelop testing protocols to enable a variety of analyses of products, systems, and components.analyse production processes for improvementanalyse production processes for improvementAnalyse production processes leading toward improvement. Analyse in order to reduce production losses and overall manufacturing costs.ensure compliance with safety legislationensure compliance with safety legislationImplement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations.assemble instrumentation equipmentassemble instrumentation equipmentBuild systems and instruments which measure, control, and monitor processes. Fit the instrument parts such as power supplies, control units, lenses, springs, circuit boards, sensors, transmitters, and...
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Frequently asked questions
What does an instrumentation engineer do?
Instrumentation engineers envision and design equipment used in manufacturing processes for controlling and monitoring various engineering processes remotely. They design equipment for the monitoring of production sites such as manufacturing systems, machinery uses and production processes.
What skills does an instrumentation engineer need?
An instrumentation engineer needs 24 essential skills, including instrumentation equipment, electricity principles, engineering principles, design drawings, mathematics.
Will AI replace instrumentation engineer jobs?
The AI disruption score for instrumentation engineer is 69/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record test data, write work-related reports, product data management. Most resilient: electricity, offshore renewable energy technologies, instrumentation equipment.
AI Replacement Risk
69/ 100
High Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Skills most at risk from AI
Skills resilient to automation
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