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Instrument Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

3Y Health

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

... tests, instrument analytics, and iterate based on controlled experiments and session reviews ... Founding designer (YC or venture‐backed) experience strongly preferred ; portfolio showing ...

3Y Health

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

... tests, instrument analytics, and iterate based on controlled experiments and session reviews ... Founding designer (YC or venture‐backed) experience strongly preferred ; portfolio showing ...

MAG INSTRUMENT, INC.

Be Seen First

Quality Control Supervisor

Ontario, CA · On-site

$35 - $40/hr

Mag Instrument, the manufacturer of Mag Lite ® Flashlights, is actively recruiting experienced ... Mag is proud of the fact its portable lighting products are designed in the U.S.A. and produced by ...

Urgent

3Y Health

AI Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

... tests, instrument analytics, and iterate based on controlled experiments and session reviews ... Founding designer (YC or venture‐backed) experience strongly preferred ; portfolio showing ...

3Y Health

AI Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

... tests, instrument analytics, and iterate based on controlled experiments and session reviews ... Founding designer (YC or venture‐backed) experience strongly preferred ; portfolio showing ...

3Y

AI Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

... tests, instrument analytics, and iterate based on controlled experiments and session reviews ... Founding designer (YC or venture-backed) experience strongly preferred ; portfolio showing systems ...

Second Order Effects

PCB Designer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

Our designs control rocket engines, manage satellite communications, instrument fusion reactors, and are enjoyed by consumers around the world. We approach problems from first principles. We break ...

General Motors

In-Vehicle Designer

Sunnyvale, CA

... digital instrument clusters, touchscreens, and head-up displays (HUD). You will partner closely ... Develop production-ready interaction designs that adhere to established design guidelines and ...

New

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All JobsInstrument Designer JobsInstrument Designer Jobs in California

Instrument Designer information

See California salary details

$19

$50

$64

How much do instrument designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for instrument designer in California is $50.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.17 and $61.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an instrument designer do?

An instrument designer may work in a variety of industries, from the oil and gas industry to building and manufacturing to musical instrument design. The roles and responsibilities of an instrument designer change quite a bit depending on the industry. For instance, in the gas and oil industry, an instrument designer focuses on instrumentation and controls on projects and equipment to decide what and how many instruments are necessary for the job. In building and manufacturing, an instrument designer may come up with new instruments or new ways of using instruments for things like wiring and electrical systems.

What is an instrument designer?

An Instrument Designer is a professional who creates detailed plans and drawings for instruments and control systems used in industrial processes, such as those in oil and gas, chemical, or manufacturing plants. They collaborate with engineers to design layouts for piping, control panels, and instrumentation to ensure accurate process monitoring and control. Instrument Designers use specialized software to produce technical drawings and ensure that all designs meet safety, regulatory, and operational requirements.

How does an instrument designer typically collaborate with engineers and other team members during a project?

Instrument Designers work closely with process, mechanical, and electrical engineers to ensure the correct selection and placement of instrumentation within a project. They often participate in multidisciplinary meetings, review P&IDs (Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams), and coordinate with other designers to resolve design clashes and maintain consistency. Regular communication and collaboration are essential, as Instrument Designers must integrate their designs with overall project specifications and safety standards. This teamwork ensures that instrumentation systems are both functional and aligned with the project's goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an instrument designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Instrument Designer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, instrumentation, and drafting, typically supported by a relevant technical diploma or engineering degree. Proficiency with CAD software (such as AutoCAD or SmartPlant), P&IDs, and instrumentation specification tools is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and effective communication are soft skills that set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure precise, safe, and efficient design of instrumentation systems crucial for industrial and engineering projects.

How much do instrument designers make?

Instrument designers typically earn a median annual salary of around $70,000 to $100,000, depending on experience, education, and industry. Advanced skills in CAD software and knowledge of engineering principles can lead to higher compensation, especially in specialized or high-demand sectors.

What is the difference between Instrument Designer vs Instrument Technician?

AspectInstrument DesignerInstrument Technician
Required CredentialsEngineering degree or technical diploma, certifications in CAD and instrumentation designTechnical diploma or associate degree, certifications in instrumentation maintenance and troubleshooting
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, engineering firms, manufacturing plantsField sites, maintenance workshops, industrial facilities
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by engineering firms, manufacturing, oil & gas, chemical industriesUsed by maintenance departments, industrial plants, service providers

While both roles involve working with instrumentation, the Instrument Designer focuses on creating and developing new instrument systems and drawings, whereas the Instrument Technician primarily handles installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of existing instruments. The roles complement each other within industrial and manufacturing environments, but they require different skill sets and certifications.

More about Instrument Designer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Instrument Designer jobs in California? For Instrument Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Instrument Designer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Instrument Designer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Instrument Designer jobs in CA? For Instrument Designer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Instrument Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Instrument Designer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 96% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,401 per year, or $50.7 per hour.

Systems Engineer - Firmware & Instrument Control

Picarro, Inc

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Systems Engineer - Firmware & Instrument Control
Company: Picarro
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Education: Bachelor's Degree Required (Advanced degree preferred)
Position Overview
Picarro is seeking a Systems Engineer - Firmware & Instrument Controlto develop and support data acquisition, instrument control, and embedded software systems for advanced laser-based measurement platforms. This role focuses on solving complex real-time control and data acquisition challenges across experimental and production instrumentation environments.
The ideal candidate has strong hands-on experience with experimental systems, data acquisition hardware, and instrument automation, along with proficiency in modern software development practices.
Key Responsibilities
  • Design and implement firmware and software for data acquisition and instrument control systems
  • Develop control interfaces for laser-based experimental instrumentation systems
  • Integrate and support data acquisition hardware and peripheral devices
  • Build reliable communication interfaces for distributed instrument systems
  • Collaborate with scientists and engineers to translate experimental needs into robust control systems
  • Develop automation tools for calibration, testing, and system monitoring
  • Debug and optimize real-time data acquisition and control performance
  • Support system integration from prototype through production deployment

Required Qualifications
  • Strong experience with data acquisition and control systems in experimental environments
  • Hands-on experience with laser-based experimental systems or similar high-precision instrumentation
  • Experience with laboratory automation and instrumentation control

Technical Skills
  • Experience with data acquisition platforms and tools such as:
    • National Instruments (NI) systems
    • LabVIEW
  • Experience with embedded and prototyping platforms such as:
    • Arduino
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Linux-based systems
    • Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
  • Strong understanding of instrument communication protocols:
    • TCP/IP
    • RS-232
    • Modbus
  • Proficiency in Python preferred for automation and control scripting
  • C/C++ programming experience desirable

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with embedded systems development
  • Exposure to microcontrollers, FPGA development, or real-time operating systems (RTOS)
  • Strong debugging and system integration skills
  • Experience building robust control systems for scientific or industrial instrumentation
  • Familiarity with real-time data streaming and acquisition architectures

The base salary range for this full-time position is $120K to $130K. Our total compensation packages include base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Your base salary range and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualification, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions.
We offer a comprehensive benefit package including:
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
  • Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
  • Employee Referral Program
  • 401K
  • Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
  • On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu-shots, etc.)

About Picarro:
We are the world's leader in timely, trusted, and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including natural gas leak detection, ethylene oxide emissions monitoring, semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara, California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, and reliability.
At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.
At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance.

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