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Instrument Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Kalsec, Inc.

Instrument Technician

Kalamazoo, MI · On-site

Independently perform loop checks, instrument checkouts, and support Engineering projects * Install, replace, calibrate, and maintain instrumentation including flow, level, pressure, temperature ...

Dtna

Instrument Repair

Detroit, MI · On-site

Inside the Role Certified Journeyman Instrument Repair - Repair, Calibrate / Verify Gaging ... Shop and engineering tests standards mechanical, electric and electronic repair, calibration ...

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Instrument Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$10.9K

$91.4K

$142.9K

How much do instrument engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for instrument engineer in Michigan is $91,427.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,500.00 and $114,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an instrument engineer do?

As an instrument engineer, your job is to design and build mechanical and electronic instruments for your employer. Most instruments are purpose-built to accomplish specific objectives, such as measuring the presence of particular chemicals or the pressure within pipes. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of an instrument engineer often requires creativity, flexibility, and the ability to coordinate with other engineers. You may also need to manage supplies, test instruments, or work overtime as needed to develop better instruments. This job title refers exclusively to designing and building instruments that measure or control processes and should not be confused with jobs that design and create musical instruments.

What are some common challenges instrument engineers face when working on multidisciplinary project teams?

Instrument Engineers often collaborate with process, electrical, and mechanical engineers, which can present challenges in aligning technical requirements and project timelines. Integrating instrumentation with complex systems requires clear communication to ensure proper data flow and control functionality. Adapting to evolving project specifications and troubleshooting issues during commissioning are also common, making flexibility and problem-solving skills essential. Building strong relationships with colleagues across disciplines helps streamline the process and achieve project goals efficiently.

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

To thrive as an Instrument Engineer, you need a solid background in instrumentation, control systems, and process automation, often supported by a degree in engineering and relevant industry experience. Familiarity with tools like PLCs, DCS, SCADA systems, and certifications such as ISA CAP or equivalent are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in designing, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex systems. These competencies are vital for ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficiency of industrial operations.

What is the difference between Instrument Engineer vs Control Systems Engineer?

AspectInstrument EngineerControl Systems Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Instrumentation Engineering; certifications like Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)Bachelor's in Electrical, Mechanical, or Control Engineering; similar certifications in control systems
Work EnvironmentOil & gas, manufacturing, chemical plants, focusing on instrumentation and process controlAutomation, manufacturing, power plants, focusing on control system design and integration
Employer & Industry UsageIndustries requiring precise instrumentation for process controlIndustries implementing automation and control system solutions

Both roles involve engineering expertise in process control, but Instrument Engineers focus on selecting, installing, and maintaining instrumentation devices, while Control Systems Engineers design and optimize control algorithms and systems. They often collaborate but serve different technical functions within industrial settings.

Are instrumentation engineers in demand?

Instrumentation engineers are in demand in industries such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and power generation, where they design, maintain, and troubleshoot control systems and instrumentation. The need for skilled professionals with knowledge of automation, control systems, and relevant certifications continues to grow with technological advancements and infrastructure development.
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What are the most commonly searched types of Instrument Engineer jobs in Michigan?

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For Instrument Engineer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Instrument Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Instrument Engineer job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,427 per year, or $44 per hour.

Design Release Engineer- Instrument Panel, Floor Console and Deco Trim Systems

General Motors

Warren, MI • On-site

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

General Motors rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

General Motors

Based on 306 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Automakers average

Based on 6,301 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Description
Job Description
This role is categorized as hybrid. The selected candidate will be expected to work on-site at the Warren Tech Center at least three days per week, or as otherwise determined by the hiring leader.
  • This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We're turning today's impossible into tomorrow's standard -from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.
Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale..
About the role:
As an Interior Design Release Engineer, you will serve as the technical authority for instrument panel, floor console, or decorative trim systems. You will lead the engineering development, integration, validation, and launch of these systems with a strong focus on safety, quality, technical excellence, and flawless execution.
In this role, you will drive disciplined delivery to vehicle development milestones while enabling high-quality design execution and achieving targets for cost, quality, mass, craftsmanship, and performance across the vehicle portfolio. This position requires strong engineering fundamentals, systems thinking, and technical rigor, with hands-on responsibility for CAD and package integration, supplier collaboration, failure mode analysis, and robust validation from early product definition through launch and into production.
What You'll Do
Program and Technical Leadership
  • Lead the design, development, analysis, implementation, and validation of complex instrument panel and floor console subsystems.
  • Perform engineering design evaluations and support concept development across vehicle programs.
  • Use engineering tools such as Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Interface Control Documents, and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to develop robust system solutions.
  • Partner with Computer-Aided Engineering teams, including Safety Performance, to validate designs and drive data-based design decisions.
  • Assess designs for manufacturability, including processes such as injection molding, vibration welding, vacuum forming, foam-in-place, and wrapping.
  • Package components and manage CAD development through suppliers or GM designers while ensuring best practices are incorporated into the models.
  • Collaborate closely with adjacent vehicle systems, including thermal, electrical, body, chassis, and restraints.
  • Schedule and lead peer reviews to evaluate designs with technical peers and resolve issues early.
  • Support early vehicle configuration work, cost optimization, customer-driven requirements, and product and process improvements.
  • Balance key business imperatives including cost, part count, mass, complexity, timing, and content.
  • Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including Creative Design, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, and suppliers.
  • Lead the product development team in tracking, escalating, and resolving open issues.
  • Review and apply competitive benchmarking to inform design direction and feature competitiveness.
  • Lead execution through change management processes to support program workstreams and engineering initiatives.
  • Support development of Statements of Requirements and lead development of statements of work.
  • Serve as a key partner for Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Design Review Based on Failure Modes, and finite element analysis activities.
  • Lead launch activities for your program and commodity with a strong quality and on-time execution mindset.
Operational Excellence and Enterprise Alignment
  • Contribute to enterprise initiatives such as Computer-Aided Engineering-driven design, virtual execution, automation, faster development, and enhanced supply chain performance.
  • Maintain strong process discipline throughout development, including clear documentation, lessons learned, risk assessment registers, and disciplined engineering execution.
  • Drive rigorous change management with concise problem statements, clear alternatives, documented decisions, and quantified impacts on cost, mass, timing, and complexity.
  • Use benchmarking to calibrate design competitiveness and inform bill of material strategy and feature decisions.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and psychological safety within the product development team by escalating risks early with facts and options.
  • Strengthen knowledge management through checklists, playbooks, templates, and golden references while supporting global alignment on standards and read-across.
  • Travel as needed during development, integration, and launch phases, including plant builds, supplier trials, design validation and product validation events, and craftsmanship audits.

What You'll Need
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor of Science in Engineering, such as Mechanical, Automotive, Aerospace, Materials, a related field.
  • 8 to 10 years of experience in instrument panel, floor console, and decorative trim development with end-to-end exposure from early product definition through launch.
  • Demonstrated track record of strong subsystem ownership, issue resolution, and on-time delivery to vehicle development milestones.
  • Experience with injection molded trim, foam-in-place, thermoformed skins, and cut-and-sew wrapping of substrates.
  • Detailed knowledge of instrument panel, instrument panel structure, and floor console performance requirements, regulations, and best practices.
  • Proven experience in component and subsystem design and development, vehicle integration, and design for manufacturability and automation.
  • Strong working knowledge of Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Design Review Based on Failure Modes, validation plan development, Interface Control Documents, and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis in collaboration with Manufacturing Engineering.
  • Demonstrated partnership with Computer-Aided Engineering teams, including Safety Performance, to validate robustness and inform design iterations.
  • Design for Six Sigma Green Belt required.
  • Demonstrated use of Design for Six Sigma tools to prevent defects and enable read-across.

Skills:
  • Strong ownership, urgency, and ability to manage competing priorities while driving clear outcomes on cost, mass, complexity, timing, and content.
  • Effective project management capability.
  • Strong change management skills, including clear problem framing, options with quantified impacts, and decisive, documented approvals.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to lead product development teams and coordinate across functions.
  • Proven ability to influence without direct authority, escalate appropriately, and drive cross-functional alignment.

Tools and Software:
  • Proficiency with CAD workflows and release processes, including the ability to manage CAD through suppliers or GM designers, ensure best practices are met, and lead peer reviews.
  • Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project.
  • Experience with CAD and visualization tools such as VisMockup, NX, UniGraphics, or similar systems.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Design for Six Sigma Black Belt preferred.
  • Project Management Institute or Project Management Professional certification preferred.

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT COMPANY SPONSORSHIP, ENTRY OF GM AS THE IMMIGRATION EMPLOYER OF RECORD ON A GOVERNMENT FORM, AND ANY WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIRING A WRITTEN SUBMISSION OR OTHER IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FROM THE COMPANY (e.g., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)
#LI-JN1
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, emailus or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

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About General Motors

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General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908

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