Instrumentation Engineers: Job Description and Info About an Instrumentation Engineering Career

Instrumentation Engineers develop instruments designed to measure, monitor and collect data relevant for ensuring optimal safety, functionality and productivity across all industries. Devices may include dynamometers for measuring torque, blood glucose monitors, aircraft sensors and smoke detectors. Instrumentation Engineers should have a bachelor's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology, Computer Science, or a math-related degree program.

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Career Definition: Instrumentation Engineer

Instrumentation Engineers may design strain gauges or sensors that capture data about the safety, efficiency and reliability of industrial machines used in the manufacturing process. They may develop electrocardiograph equipment and computed tomography scanners or may work on security systems. These are just two of the myriad career possibilities for Instrumentation Engineers, according to science and engineering resource Physics Today, www.physicstoday.org. In addition, Instrumentation Engineers have been essential to the success of every aeronautical research project ever flown, according to NASA, www.nasa.gov. Instrumentation Engineers may be employed by manufacturing firms, defense contractors, biomedical companies, government or work for private engineering firms.

Becoming a Instrumentation Engineer

Required Education: Instrumentation Engineering Careers

Instrumentation Engineers must hold at least a bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a math-related field. Though the exact discipline varies upon the industry in which you plan to work, most Instrumentation Engineers hold a degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Computer Engineering. Graduate-level degrees are preferred by many employers and may even be required for some advanced positions.

Required Skills: Instrumentation Engineer

All engineers must have a strong aptitude for math and physics. Instrumentation Engineers must also possess strong communication skills, including the ability to translate project needs into the design and development of hardware suitable for the task. Excellent problem solving skills and an ability to think outside the box are essential, as many Instrumentation Engineers find themselves called upon to solve uniquely challenging problems.

Career and Economic Outlook: Instrumentation Engineering

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, reports a general decline in the demand for all engineers, the field of Instrumentation Engineering appears to be growing, in part due to an increasing use of automatic control in manufacturing and processing plants. The development of more accurate sensors has led to a higher demand for Instrumentation Engineers. While pay is highly dependent upon industry and education, PayScale.com states the average yearly salary of Instrumentation Engineers to be over $69,000.

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