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Instrument Engineer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Showing results 41-60

Instrument Engineer information

See Tennessee salary details

$11.3K

$95.2K

$148.8K

How much do instrument engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for instrument engineer in Tennessee is $95,206.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,300.00 and $119,400.00 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 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 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.

Are instrument engineers in demand?

Instrument engineers are in demand in industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, and power generation, where they design, install, and maintain control systems and instrumentation. The profession requires technical skills, certifications, and knowledge of automation tools, and job opportunities are expected to grow with ongoing infrastructure and technological development.

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.

What job categories do people searching Instrument Engineer jobs in Tennessee look for?

The top searched job categories for Instrument Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:

Infographic showing various Instrument Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,206 per year, or $45.8 per hour.

Electrical Engineer/Instrument & Controls

Strata-G, LLC

Oak Ridge, TN • On-site

$76K - $102K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

At Strata-G, we define significance by the extraordinary people we hire, the relationships we build with our clients, and the positive impact we make in the community. Our team of intellectually curious and highly motivated engineers, scientists and business professionals engages with our clients to solve complex energy and environmental challenges around the world.

We are driven by our values to create a culture of significant and positive change for our clients and the world.

We Care We treat our customers and employees as we wish to be treated. Integrity We are honest and ethical in every endeavor. Service We continuously strive to please our customers and to exceed their expectations. Quality We maintain a culture of continuous improvement. Safety We hold paramount the safety and health of our associates, our customers, the public, and the environment. Innovation We develop creative solutions to better serve our customers. Attitude We maintain a positive attitude and value humor. Outreach We share the results of our successes with the community.

Strata-G is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer/Instrument & Controls with the following:

Job Location: Oak Ridge, TN.

Summary:

Candidate will be responsible for developing high quality detailed design packages, providing engineering procurement and field technical support to implement those designs, and providing expertise for troubleshooting and technical assessments of plant systems.

Design involves the preparation of conceptual engineering deliverables such as cost-estimating bills of material and labor-hour estimates, statements of work, design criteria, and title II design engineering deliverables including preparation of calculations and analyses, construction specifications & drawings, and equipment specifications.

Candidate must effectively and cooperatively work as a team member of an integrated project team. Design engineer will routinely perform walkdowns in the existing plant facilities in order to generate design documents and provide field support to craft personnel.

All electrical engineers will apply technical expertise and wide application of technical principles, theories and concepts in the Electrical Engineering field with primarily an instrumentation/controls focus for equipment process control and monitoring.

The electrical design engineer will provide self-performed technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems through the application of established engineering practices, codes, and standards. Field troubleshooting support of existing systems will be required to inform design for corrective actions.

All electrical engineers will be responsible for preparing conduit/cable schedules, conduit/equipment plans, one-line diagrams, wiring/connection/schematic diagrams, instrument loop diagrams, various sections/elevations/details, calculations, datasheets, and construction specifications.

Design engineers will develop control cabinet assembly drawings, system diagrams, and control logic for both batch and continuous processes using conventional analog instrumentation, distributed digital control systems, and programmable logic controller/human-machine interfaces (PLCs/HMIs).

Design engineers will also develop process control system narratives, aid in the development of process software requirements, and provide input to Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).

Candidate should have demonstrated experience utilizing the National Electrical Code, UL508A, and relevant ISA standards to design instrumentation and controls systems.

A Professional Engineering License (PE) is preferred but not required.

Requirements:

B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering with minimum of 10 years' experience and >3 yrs instrumentation and controls design engineering experience. Experience utilizing Rockwell Automation industrial automation software (RSLogix, FactoryTalk View, etc.) is preferred, but not required.

Additional Requirement:

  • Q clearance is preferred.

Job Type: Full Time, No remote options.

Strata-G will not sponsor applicants for immigrant or non-immigrant work visas. The successful candidate will be required to submit evidence of identity and employment authorization. Tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR 707.4, will be conducted by Strata-G and a background investigation by the Federal government may be required to obtain an access authorization prior to employment. Strata-G is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veteran or disabled status. All job descriptions are evaluated for physical/mental standards prior to posting based on AAP guidelines.