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Instrumentation Engineer Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Astrix Inc

Instrumentation Quality Engineer

Lake Forest, CA · On-site

$76.40K - $98.60K/yr

The largest device company in the world - with complementary businesses in Surgical and Vision Care Instrumentation Quality Engineer Location: Lake Forest, CA Contract: 6 month contract with ...

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Instrumentation Engineer information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$13K

$109.4K

$171.1K

How much do instrumentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for instrumentation engineer in Riverside, CA is $109,435.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,900.00 and $137,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Instrumentation Engineer, you need a solid understanding of instrumentation and control systems, process automation, and a degree in engineering (typically electrical, electronics, or instrumentation). Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA systems, DCS, and relevant industry certifications such as ISA CAP are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in project teams and troubleshoot complex systems. These competencies are crucial for ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of industrial processes.

What are some common challenges Instrumentation Engineers face when working on multidisciplinary project teams?

Instrumentation Engineers frequently collaborate with professionals from mechanical, electrical, and process engineering backgrounds, which can present coordination challenges. Aligning instrumentation requirements with broader project timelines and ensuring compatibility with other systems often requires clear communication and adaptability. Additionally, troubleshooting integration issues and maintaining safety and compliance standards are ongoing aspects of the role. Successful Instrumentation Engineers develop strong teamwork and problem-solving skills to navigate these complexities.

What are Instrumentation Engineers?

Instrumentation Engineers are professionals who design, develop, install, manage, and maintain equipment used to monitor and control engineering systems, machinery, and processes. They work primarily in industries such as manufacturing, oil and gas, power generation, and chemical processing. Their main goal is to ensure that these systems operate efficiently, safely, and within regulatory standards by using instruments like sensors, control systems, and automation technologies. Instrumentation Engineers often collaborate with other engineering disciplines to optimize and troubleshoot complex processes.

What is the difference between Instrumentation Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectInstrumentation EngineerElectrical Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Instrumentation, Control Engineering, or related fields; certifications like Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering; Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferred
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, process industries, automation systemsPower plants, electrical systems, construction sites
Industry UsageProcess control, automation, manufacturingPower generation, electrical infrastructure, electronics
Job FocusDesign, install, and maintain control systems and instrumentationDesign, develop, and maintain electrical systems and circuits

Instrumentation Engineers primarily focus on control systems and automation within manufacturing and process industries, while Electrical Engineers work on electrical systems across various sectors. Both roles require technical certifications and often overlap in industrial environments, but their core responsibilities differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Instrumentation Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA? For Instrumentation Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Instrumentation Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Instrumentation Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Instrumentation Engineer jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Instrumentation Engineer job openings:
Instrumentation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Instrumentation Engineer job openings in Riverside, CA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $109,435 per year, or $52.6 per hour.
Sr. Test Instrumentation Engineer

Sr. Test Instrumentation Engineer

Virgin Galactic, Inc.

Irvine, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Virgin Galactic is seeking a talented and motivated engineer to execute a variety of Test & Evaluation instrumentation activities for our next generation of Spaceships. Guided by our values, "Safety Above All", we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions. The Senior Test Instrumentation Engineer for Test & Evaluation Department will lead and execute the design, build, integration, verification and maintenance of custom and off-the-shelf test equipment and instrumentation for multiple engineering disciplines including, but not limited to structures, materials, mechanical systems, avionics and flight controls. Maintain focus on timeliness and execution of tasks and deliverables every day. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.
Responsibilities
  • Engage in Virgin Galactic's ground testing instrumentation and test equipment for the verification of complex mechanical, electronic and/or structural components and systems
  • Drive and support the execution of entire instrumentation project cycles from concept through completion
    • Define the scope and verifiable requirements of test instrumentation efforts
    • Design instrumentation and associated equipment
    • Design and develop instrumentation software
    • Integrate test instrumentation systems
    • Verify as-built systems meet requirements
    • Maintain test instrumentation after deployment to active testing
  • Participate in the test engineering review, approval, and release processes
  • Participate in the continuous improvement of test instrumentation practices, including processes, procedures, technology implementation, capital projects, standardization efforts and training activities
  • Ensure common best practices are integrated across test instrumentation
  • Engage in internal instrumentation user groups to foster share learning with teammates
  • Ensure that all decisions of your team are driven by safety: be the safety focal for Test Instrumentation - drive the adoption of Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), safety audits for all roles and work functions, and maintain a safety-first culture
  • With support from senior management, foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity, sharing, creative problem solving, and strategic thinking
  • Execute other duties as required by Virgin Galactic senior leadership to support company and program objectives
  • Continuously practice safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; adhere to regulatory protocols and rules
  • Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks
  • Adhere to set directions and guidelines from team leader to support collaboration across teams to complete projects.

Required Skills and Experience
  • Bachelors degree from an accredited institution with a concentration in a relevant engineering discipline, or equivalent industry experience
  • 8+ years of experience in test instrumentation including test software, fixtures and/or racks used for component acceptance/qualification, structural test, materials test, or environmental test
  • Demonstrated experience of Instrumentation selection, signal conditioning and data acquisition
  • Experience instrumenting strain gages, string potentiometers, thermocouples, accelerometers, load cells, LVDTs and pressure transducers
  • 3+ years of National Instruments PXI, cRIO or cDAQ data acquisition experience
  • 5+ years of LabVIEW development experience in industry (Certified LabVIEW Developer accreditation or equivalent)
    • Extensive NI-DAQmx experience
    • Proven OOD experience and implementation of by-value or by-reference object-oriented designs in LabVIEW
    • Working knowledge of Source Code Control (GIT or equivalent) usage
  • Electrical engineering experience, as applied to data acquisition and control (e.g. analog, digital, high speed data signal integrity)
  • Hardware system build and integration experience
    • Working knowledge of integration tools (DMM, scope, function generator, power supply, loads, hand tools)
    • Working knowledge of mechanical and electrical build tools (wire cutter/stripper/crimper, soldering iron)
  • Engineering analytical skills in test-relevant engineering areas
  • Demonstrated organizational skills, capable of juggling and completing multiple tasks across different disciplines and programs
  • Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior.
  • Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas

Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Experience with component testing in a DO-160 and/or SMC-S-016 (or similar) environment
  • Experience with environmental testing of mechanical and/or avionics components and systems
  • Experience with mechanical and physical testing of materials, with an emphasis on metallic and/or composite materials
  • Practical knowledge of test processes, including requirements gathering, design creation, integrity in build execution, and reporting skills
  • Working knowledge of PLM systems
  • Working knowledge of DQMH and/or JKISM
  • Working knowledge of UML including Class, Object, Activity, Use Case and Sequence diagrams
  • Working knowledge of Continuous Integration system usage
  • Experienced Confluence/Jira user
  • SharePoint familiarity
  • Successful execution of projects and tasks in an Agile environment
  • Demonstrated delegation skills
  • EIM integration knowledge
  • Working knowledge of Continuous Integration system setup and management

#LI-AB1
The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $108,871.00-$166,036.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits
Who We Are
Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles .
Export Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here .
EEO Statement
Virgin Galactic is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Virgin Galactic is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Drug Free Workplace
Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.
Phoenix Employment Requirements
For individuals seeking employment at our Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport facility, employment is contingent upon you obtaining and maintaining a TSA authorized security badge. This includes initial and annual mandatory background checks that are governed by TSA, and conducted by the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport badging office.

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