Instrumentation engineering is a crucial job role in creating controlled systems in electrical and pneumatic domains.
Their duties can vary based on the company they work for, but the common thing is the high probability of getting recruited by a good firm. Besides, they can opt to work in a variety of industries starting from telecommunication and automation to manufacturing.
Let’s take a look at what an instrumentation engineer does and what is the optimal roadmap for becoming an instrumentation engineer in 2023.
Career Opportunities As An Instrumentation Engineer
Instrumentation engineering across the globe is a high-demand degree, especially in the field of petroleum and natural gas. With increasing dependency on technology and machinery, the demand is only expected to increase.
Here are some industries/ sectors that offer concrete career opportunities for instrumentation engineers.
- Engineering firms
- Automation firms
- Consultancy companies
- Manufacturing industry
- IT
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Chemical industry
- Oil and gas and petrochemical industry
- Railways and construction
- Space research organizations
Some of the high-paying job roles include:
- Instrumentation engineer
- Automation engineer
- Testing and quality maintenance engineer
- Professor
What Does An Instrumentation Engineer Do?
Those who perform tasks related to instrumentation engineering are called instrumentation engineers, and they develop, design, install and maintain equipment to monitor and control machinery.
Here are more in-depth details of what an instrumentation engineer might get asked to do.
- Design, develop and maintain control systems.
- Configure automated electrical systems and processes.
- Troubleshoot and repair machines that are malfunctioning.
- Conduct routine maintenance on equipment and machines.
- Make reports and communicate them to the managers.
How To Become An Instrumentation Engineer in 2023?
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can become an instrumentation engineer in 2023.
1. Graduate School And Undergraduate With The Right Subjects
To have a scalable career in instrumentation engineering, you need to start from the very base. After graduating from school (most preferably in STEM), you need to pursue a bachelor’s in instrumentation engineering technology or related fields, i.e., electrical or chemical engineering.
Instead of B.tech, you can also pursue Diploma courses. However, in many countries, in order to pursue higher education, you need to have an undergrad degree, so do consider that.
2. Gain Practical Experience
After completing your primary education, it is a must that you gain some field experience through jobs and internships. This will help you obtain the skills and expertise you need throughout your career and will also add to your resume.
Start with entry-level internships during your undergraduate. So that, when you graduate, you have both a degree and work experience.
These two combined will help you land better jobs that will have more significant growth opportunities. To pursue a career as an instrumentation engineer, look for internships/job roles related to electronics or electrical system management.
3. Complete Post-Graduation
Though a bachelor’s degree is enough for you to land an entry-level job, and you can work your way from there, having a higher degree smoothens your road to promotions and landing better job opportunities.
With a master’s degree, you can crack jobs like mid or senior-level instrumentation engineering.
4. Opt For License And Specialization Certificates
As you grow, you might wish to get into consultancy roles or provide instrumentation services; in that case, you need to attain specific licenses and certifications.
Some such courses include Engineer in Training (which gives you an EIT license) and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCESS gives the title of Professional Engineer).
What Does Instrumentation Designing Services Include?
Here are some major services under the umbrella of instrumentation designing. These services highlight a diverse range of tasks and responsibilities that instrumentation engineers perform.
Let’s take a quick look at what they are and what are the deliverables of each of them.
1. Instrument Commissioning Services
This service involves testing and verifying the functionality and performance of newly installed instruments and control systems to ensure they meet the required specifications and standards.
For this, an instrumentation engineer would conduct functional tests, performance evaluations, and troubleshooting to ensure that the instruments meet the specified requirements and operate as intended.
2. Instrument Installation Services
Instrumentation engineers can assist in the proper installation and integration of instruments and control systems, ensuring that they are positioned correctly and connected appropriately.
Under this service, the engineer needs to conduct functional tests, performance evaluations, and troubleshooting to ensure that the instruments meet the specified requirements and operate as intended.
3. Instrument Specification Development
Under this service, instrumentation engineers help in developing detailed specifications for instruments and control systems. For this, they consider the project requirements, industry standards, and technical specifications.
The engineers are needed to understand the project requirements, analyze the process needs, and select the appropriate instruments and equipment.
4. Instrumentation Cad Drafting Services
This service involves creating detailed computer-aided design (CAD) drawings and diagrams for instrumentation systems, including instrument loops, control panels, and wiring diagrams.
CAD drafting is an essential part of instrumentation engineering. Instrumentation engineers use specialized software to create detailed drawings, diagrams, and schematics.
5. Instrumentation Calibration Services
Instrument calibration is essential to ensure accurate measurements. Instrumentation engineers can perform calibration services, calibrating instruments to known standards and adjusting them if necessary.
6. Instrumentation Consulting Services
Instrumentation consultants provide expert advice and guidance on instrumentation-related matters, such as system design, equipment selection, and troubleshooting.
Instrumentation consultants also help clients optimize their instrumentation systems for improved performance and efficiency.
7. Instrumentation Drawings Services
Instrumentation engineers create detailed drawings and schematics for this service, including loop diagrams, control valve assemblies, panel layouts, and instrument location plans.
8. Instrumentation Installation And Maintenance Support
This service involves assisting with the installation and maintenance of instrumentation systems, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring smooth operation.
In case of malfunctions or issues, instrumentation engineers troubleshoot and rectify the problems to minimize downtime.
9. Instrumentation Outsourcing Services
Some companies choose to outsource their instrumentation requirements. Instrumentation engineers can offer their expertise as part of outsourced teams, handling design, implementation, and maintenance tasks remotely.
10. Instrumentation Project Management
Instrumentation engineers can take on project management roles, overseeing the planning, execution, and control of instrumentation projects. This includes coordinating with stakeholders, managing resources, and ensuring project goals are met.
11. Instrumentation Software Development
In addition to hardware, instrumentation engineers can develop software applications for data acquisition, analysis, and control purposes. They may design custom interfaces, control algorithms, or data visualization tools.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it will be fair to say that instrumentation engineering is a field that is essential for some of the biggest industries and, therefore, is of great value. Plus, unlike some job roles, it is safe from the attack of AI and has a safe future for quite some time ahead.
So follow this detailed guide to plan your future as one of the most successful instrumentation engineers in the nation.