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Electrical Instrumentation Engineering Jobs in California

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Electrical Instrumentation Engineering information

What is electrical instrumentation engineering?

Electrical Instrumentation Engineering is a specialized field that focuses on the design, development, installation, and maintenance of instruments and devices used to measure and control electrical systems and processes. Professionals in this field ensure the accuracy and reliability of equipment that monitors variables such as voltage, current, pressure, temperature, and flow in industrial and manufacturing settings. They play a crucial role in automating processes, improving efficiency, and maintaining safety standards in industries like power generation, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

What are some typical challenges electrical instrumentation engineers face when working on large-scale industrial projects?

Electrical Instrumentation Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new instrumentation systems with existing legacy equipment, ensuring compliance with strict industry safety and regulatory standards, and managing tight project timelines. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including process engineers, electricians, and project managers—is key to overcoming these obstacles. Effective troubleshooting skills and adaptability are crucial, as unexpected technical issues or supply chain delays can arise during installation and commissioning phases.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an electrical instrumentation engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Electrical Instrumentation Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering principles, process control, and instrumentation, often supported by a bachelor's degree in electrical or instrumentation engineering. Familiarity with PLCs, DCS, SCADA systems, and relevant certifications such as ISA CAP or EIT are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in cross-functional teams and complex environments. These skills ensure safe, reliable, and optimized operation of automated and industrial systems.

What is the difference between Electrical Instrumentation Engineering vs Electrical Engineering?

AspectElectrical Instrumentation EngineeringElectrical Engineering
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical or Instrumentation Engineering, certifications like Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, PE license (optional)
Work EnvironmentFactories, process plants, automation systemsPower plants, electrical design firms, manufacturing
Industry UsageIndustrial automation, control systems, instrumentationPower systems, electronics, telecommunications

Electrical Instrumentation Engineering focuses on designing, installing, and maintaining control and instrumentation systems used in industrial processes. Electrical Engineering covers a broader range of electrical systems, including power distribution, electronics, and telecommunications. Both roles often share certifications and work environments but differ in specialization and scope.

Are electrical instrumentation engineers in demand?

Electrical instrumentation engineers are in demand in industries such as manufacturing, energy, and oil and gas, where they design, install, and maintain control systems and instrumentation. The demand is driven by ongoing infrastructure development, automation, and the need for specialized skills in PLCs, SCADA systems, and calibration. Job prospects are generally strong for those with relevant certifications and experience in industrial environments.

What does an electrical instrumentation engineer do?

An electrical instrumentation engineer designs, develops, and maintains control systems and instrumentation used in industrial processes. They work with sensors, controllers, and automation equipment to ensure accurate measurement and control of electrical and electronic systems, often using tools like PLCs and SCADA systems. Their role involves troubleshooting, calibration, and ensuring safety standards in environments such as manufacturing plants and power facilities.

What are popular job titles related to Electrical Instrumentation Engineering jobs in California?

For Electrical Instrumentation Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Electrical Instrumentation Engineering jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Electrical Instrumentation Engineering jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Electrical Instrumentation Engineering jobs?

Cities in California with the most Electrical Instrumentation Engineering job openings:

Electrical Instrumentation Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Electrical Instrumentation Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Electrical Engineer

Hargrove Engineers and Constructors

Concord, CA • On-site

$175K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

What You'll Be Doing
Job Scope: Generally responsible for performing all aspects for complete design of complex electrical and instrumentation engineering assignments. This level requires extensive progressive experience in electrical and instrumentation engineering and involves applying advanced engineering techniques and analysis. This work will be performed under general supervision.
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Generally responsible for performing all aspects for complete design of complex electrical and instrumentation engineering assignments. This level requires extensive progressive experience in electrical and instrumentation engineering and involves applying advanced engineering techniques and analysis. This work will be performed under general supervision
  • Familiarity with and utilize department design and drafting standards.
  • Familiarity with project scope, specifications and design criteria upon assignment to a project task team.
  • Recognize and communicate scope and design changes promptly.
  • On-site assistance during startup.
  • Provide technical guidance to less experienced drafting and engineering personnel in the department.
  • Coordinate work activities with other staff members and the discipline lead.
  • Perform duties as a discipline lead on a small to mid-sized projects.
  • Produce estimate level designs and material take-offs suitable for the level of the estimate being performed on a project.
  • Produce detail design calculations and sketches for materials of construction associated with the project. Calculations produced will be neatly prepared and organized for efficient checking by others and efficient use by drafters/designers for preparing drawings and as a deliverable when required.
  • Produce electrical installation specifications.
  • Develop conceptual layouts and cost studies as necessary to determine the simplest, most efficient approach to solving engineering tasks at hand.
  • Produce estimate level preliminary designs and material take-offs suitable for the level of the estimate being performed on a project.
  • Produce installation details, motor control center single lines, electric room layouts, motor control elementaries, connection diagrams, cable schedules, control panel layouts and grounding, lighting, power and instrumentation plans under general supervision.
  • Produce designs with efficient use of construction materials with an overall emphasis on ease of construction and completed product meeting the expectations of the client.
  • Check calculations made by other engineers to ensure accuracy, conformance to codes, specifications, design criteria and conformance to good engineering practice.
  • Assist the drafting group in resolving routine layout and detailing problems. It is your responsibility to furnish sufficient sketches and details necessary for completion of engineering drawings.
  • Consult with design leaders from other disciplines to ensure the smooth flow of vital information necessary for the scheduled completion of the project.
  • Advise the senior engineer concerning design or scope changes, which have been identified.
  • Assist other engineers in developing and assembling scopes, drawings and specifications into a "package", enabling electrical/instrumentation purchase inquiries to be issued for procurement of materials or subcontract pricing.
  • Review and checking vendor drawings and other discipline drawings for electrical/instrumentation input.
  • Develop construction specifications.
  • Review fabrication drawings and other construction submittals for conformance to engineering drawings and specifications.
  • Perform fieldwork necessary to gather field data, check tie-ins and provide construction support.
  • Estimate and schedule professional service hours and assessing the progress and quality of electrical/instrumentation work.
  • Provide leadership to ensure communication and execution of work within scope, schedule and budget.
  • Virtual team skills and cross divisional relationships are developed, and able to provide interoffice execution leadership and support.
  • Ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time.

Below is the range that we in good faith believe is the potential compensation for this role at the time of this posting and is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California. The typical base salary range for this position is just one component of Hargrove's total compensation package for Teammates. Actual compensation will be based on education, experience, skill set and location.
Minimum Salary: $150,000 annually
Maximum Salary: $175,000 annually
Ideal Background
Education: Bachelor or Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university is required.
Certification: Professional Engineering registration is highly preferred.
Experience: This position requires 6 or more years of relevant industrial experience in electrical and instrumentation engineering.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Knowledge and application of the current version of the National Electrical Code (NEC).
  • Ability to perform lighting level calculations.
  • Ability to size wire, conduit and overcurrent protection for both lighting and power applications.
  • Ability to perform voltage drop calculations.
  • Ability to route conduit and cable tray.
  • Ability to calculate tray and conduit fill.
  • Ability to determine motor control center loading.
  • Familiarity with specifications and installation details of construction bulk materials and equipment.
  • Ability to create accurate electrical installation documents from the information found on vendor equipment drawings.
  • Ability to determine load center unit substation loading.
  • Ability to develop equipment specifications for equipment such as motor control centers, variable frequency drivers, induction and synchronous motors, load center unit substations, etc.
  • Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all electrical deliverables.
  • Ability to produce a 15kV power system single line diagram.
  • Familiarity with 15kV power system equipment and installation techniques both above and below ground.
  • Ability to develop equipment specifications for 15kV/5kV equipment such as switchgear, load break switches, motor control center and capable of performing calculations for required short circuit and overcurrent protective device ratings.
  • Ability to develop electrical installation specifications.
  • Ability to accurately estimate completion of assigned tasks.
  • Ability to develop a construction cost estimate, a detailed engineering schedule and a man-hour budget for a small project or an area for a larger project.
  • Ability to determine construction material quantities.
  • Ability to contribute to the development of P&ID's with respect to measurement and control.
  • Ability to develop control narratives.
  • Ability to specify process instrumentation and develop installation details.
  • Ability to size control valves using appropriate software.
  • Ability to develop specifications and data sheets for instrumentation, analyzers, control systems and actuated valves.
  • Knowledge of the standards that apply to instrumentation and controls (ISA).
  • Ability to act as discipline engineer of record for projects that require professional engineering certification.
  • Ability to identify and develop work sharing packages for interoffice execution support.
  • Knowledge and application of company engineering design and CAD drafting standards.
  • Programming experience with Programmable Logic controller (PLC), Human Machine Interface (HMI), and/or Distributed Control System (DCS) equipment.
  • Working knowledge of CAD software, either AutoCAD, Microstation or both.
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Excellent presentation skills.

Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time.

Hargrove Culture
We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a "team mentality" so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. We know that each person on our team contributes to the success of our company by pairing expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe.
Our safety culture protects and promotes the well-being of every person who works with us and every person touched by our work.
As a 100% Teammate owned company, we proudly offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible Teammates.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Hargrove is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexual identity, marital or family status), disability, military service or obligations, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Hargrove is a drug-free workplace.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

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