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Instrument Commissioning Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Giant Magellan Telescope

Systems Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$115K - $165K/yr

... Instrument. * Work closely with the Systems Engineering (SE) and the Assembly, Integration, Verification, and Commissioning (AIVC) teams to ensure lower-level verification activities properly support ...

Worley

Senior Instrumentation Engineer

Monrovia, CA · On-site

$130K - $191K/yr

Provide technical input and support during procurement, construction, and commissioning phases as ... Instrument Location Drawings. * Instrument Installation Details. * Instrument Specifications ...

Aemetis

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Medium/High Voltage Electrcian Instrument Technician

Ceres, CA · On-site

$40 - $45/hr

... Instrument calibration and repair 4. Analyzes circuits, wiring diagrams and drawings to install ... installation and commissioning of new medium/high voltage systems. 22. Maintain accurate ...

Firefly Aerospace

Launch Engineer, EGSE

Lompoc, CA

... instrument and control cable schedules, instrument loop diagrams, junction box wiring diagrams ... Work with launch personnel in performing check outs, commissioning, and calibration of pad ...

Firefly Aerospace

Launch Engineer, EGSE

Lompoc, CA · On-site

... instrument and control cable schedules, instrument loop diagrams, junction box wiring diagrams ... Work with launch personnel in performing check outs, commissioning, and calibration of pad ...

Caltech

Mechanical Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

The qualified mechanical engineer will contribute to instrument and mechanical subsystem conceptualization, detailed design, mechanical fabrication, system integration, testing, and commissioning of ...

Fladger Associates

Validation Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

Manage and participate actively in all phases of qualification/validation for QC systems such as QC analytical instrument and equipment: commissioning/qualification, protocol execution ...

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All JobsInstrument Commissioning JobsInstrument Commissioning Jobs in California

Instrument Commissioning information

See California salary details

$69.6K

$133.6K

$186.5K

How much do instrument commissioning jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for instrument commissioning in California is $133,597.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,200.00 and $174,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical daily responsibilities for an Instrument Commissioning professional?

Instrument Commissioning professionals are responsible for verifying that all instrumentation and control systems are installed and functioning correctly according to project specifications. On a daily basis, you might perform loop checks, instrument calibrations, troubleshooting, system integration, and safety tests. You’ll typically collaborate closely with project engineers, electricians, project managers, and client representatives to coordinate commissioning activities and promptly resolve any technical issues. The role may also require meticulous documentation and reporting to ensure compliance with industry standards. This position often involves fieldwork in construction or plant environments, where adaptability and strong teamwork are essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Instrument Commissioning position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Instrument Commissioning professional, you need a solid background in instrumentation, electrical systems, and process control, often supported by relevant technical degrees or certifications. Familiarity with industry standards, PLC/DCS systems, loop checking tools, and calibration instruments is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for this role. These skills ensure safe, precise, and efficient startup and integration of instrumentation systems during project commissioning phases.

Is instrumentation in high demand?

Instrumentation roles, including instrument commissioning, are in high demand in industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, and power generation. Skilled professionals with knowledge of control systems, calibration, and relevant certifications are often sought after to ensure safety and efficiency in complex projects.

What is instrumentation commissioning?

Instrumentation commissioning is the process of testing, calibrating, and validating instruments and control systems to ensure they operate correctly within a project. It involves verifying sensor accuracy, signal integrity, and system integration, often requiring specialized tools and adherence to safety standards. This phase is critical for ensuring reliable operation before the system is fully operational.

What is the role of an instrument commissioning technician?

An instrument commissioning technician is responsible for installing, testing, and calibrating instrumentation systems to ensure proper operation before they are put into service. They work closely with engineers and use tools like calibration equipment and control systems, often following safety and quality standards. Their role is critical in verifying that instruments function accurately and reliably in industrial or process environments.

What is an Instrument Commissioning job?

An Instrument Commissioning job involves testing, calibrating, and verifying the functionality of instrumentation and control systems before they are put into operation. This ensures that all instruments meet design specifications, safety standards, and operational requirements. Commissioning engineers work closely with construction, engineering, and operations teams to troubleshoot and resolve any issues. The role is critical in industries like oil & gas, power plants, and manufacturing to guarantee smooth startup and optimal performance of systems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Instrument Commissioning jobs in California? The most popular types of Instrument Commissioning jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Instrument Commissioning jobs in California? For Instrument Commissioning jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Instrument Commissioning jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Instrument Commissioning jobs in California are:
Instrument Commissioning jobs near you
Infographic showing various Instrument Commissioning job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $133,597 per year, or $64.2 per hour.

Research Scientist, Materials Characterization

Periodic Labs

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

$225K - $325K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

About Periodic Labs
We're an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what's scientifically possible.
About the Role
Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of materials research in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale. As a Research Scientist within the Periodic Labs experimental effort, you bring AI predictions into reality through physics and measurement science. In this role, you will both develop new material characterization approaches and be part of the team developing autonomous discovery loops.
This is a senior, hands-on role. You will own the design and execution of high-fidelity property measurements, drive the development of high-throughput characterization schemes, and collaborate closely with AI, automation, and materials science teams to build feedback loops that accelerate discovery. You will set the standard for measurement quality and data integrity across the lab.
What You'll Do
  • Develop and perform high-fidelity thermodynamic, transport, and spectroscopic measurements of materials, including electronic, magnetic, and thermal properties
  • Design and implement rapid property measurement schemes to scale up the material characterization process and feed AI-guided discovery pipelines
  • In collaboration with the AI team, implement automated data analysis and reasoning pipelines for screened materials; contribute to feedback loop design between measurement and prediction
  • In collaboration with the engineering team, develop autonomous systems for property characterization leveraging robotics and programmable instrumentation
  • Evaluate, procure, and commission new instrumentation; develop custom measurement setups where commercial solutions are insufficient
  • Define and enforce data standards, metadata schemas, and documentation practices to ensure measurement outputs are reproducible and reusable
  • Uphold and contribute to lab safety standards, particularly around cryogenic systems, high-field magnets, and hazardous materials

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have
  • PhD in Physics, Materials Science, or related field, with 5+ years of hands-on experience in physical property characterization
  • Deep, demonstrated expertise in electronic and magnetic property measurements, including resistivity, Hall effect, magnetometry, and heat capacity
  • Strong background in cryogenic measurements and low-noise techniques, including lock-in methods, shielding/grounding, and precision instrumentation
  • Strong track record of highly impactful research demonstrated by publications in top-tier journals and/or inventions, and recognized leadership in the field
  • Proficiency with data analysis (e.g., Python/Jupyter, familiarity with instrument SDKs a plus) and disciplined data management practices
  • Excellent scientific writing, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and strong ownership of experiment quality
  • Ability to communicate measurement requirements and findings clearly to AI, engineering, and materials science collaborators

Especially Strong Candidates May Also Have
  • Experience with automation of physical property measurement platforms (e.g., PPMS, MPMS, custom rigs)
  • Experience with the computational prediction and experimental characterization design loop
  • Experience with spectroscopic characterization techniques such as ARPES, neutron scattering, or optical spectroscopy
  • Experience with lab buildout, instrument commissioning, and process safety
  • Experience handling and managing data at scale, including LIMS or similar data infrastructure
  • Previous work at national laboratories or large-scale user facilities

Mechanics
Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and training or experience
Employment type: Full-time, 12-month term
Location: Our lab is located in Menlo Park and we prefer folks to be located in Menlo Park or San Francisco but can be flexible based on role
Compensation: The annual base compensation range for this role is $225,000-325,000, commensurate with experience
Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.
We're building a team of the world's best - the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don't just follow the frontier, they define it. If you're driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.

Apply