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Principal Instrument Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Airswift

Principal I&C Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

The Principal Instrument Engineer is a member of the Capital Project Team (CPT) and reports directly to the CPT Engineering Manager. The Engineer is primarily accountable for Quality Assurance and ...

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Principal Instrument Engineer information

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal instrument engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal instrument engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Principal Instrument Engineers?

Principal Instrument Engineers are senior-level professionals responsible for designing, specifying, and overseeing the installation and maintenance of instrumentation and control systems in industrial settings, such as oil and gas, chemical, or manufacturing plants. They lead engineering teams, ensure compliance with industry standards, and provide technical expertise for complex projects. Their duties often include project management, technical support, and mentoring junior staff, making them key contributors to the safe and efficient operation of plant processes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Instrument Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Instrument Engineer, you need deep expertise in instrumentation engineering, project management experience, and a relevant engineering degree or professional certification. Familiarity with industry standards (such as ISA or IEC), design software (like AutoCAD or SPI/Intools), and safety systems is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are critical soft skills for managing teams and interfacing with stakeholders. These skills ensure safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of complex instrumentation projects in industrial environments.

How does a Principal Instrument Engineer typically contribute to cross-disciplinary project teams?

As a Principal Instrument Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in multidisciplinary teams by providing expert guidance on the design, selection, and integration of instrumentation systems. You’ll often collaborate closely with process, electrical, and control engineers to ensure instrumentation aligns with project requirements and safety standards. Your input is essential during project planning, design reviews, and troubleshooting phases, ensuring systems are reliable and compliant. Effective communication and leadership skills are key, as you may mentor junior engineers and coordinate with vendors or contractors to deliver successful outcomes.

What is the difference between Principal Instrument Engineer vs Instrument Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Instrument EngineerInstrument Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Engineering, often with professional certificationsBachelor's in Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentLead role in project design, oversight, and technical decision-makingExecution of instrumentation installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting
Industry UsageUsed in large-scale projects, oil & gas, petrochemical, and manufacturingCommonly employed in plant operations, maintenance, and fieldwork

The Principal Instrument Engineer typically holds a senior technical role with leadership responsibilities, focusing on design and project oversight. In contrast, the Instrument Engineer is more involved in hands-on installation and maintenance tasks. Both roles require relevant engineering credentials and are vital in industrial settings, but the Principal Instrument Engineer often supervises and guides the work of Instrument Engineers.

More about Principal Instrument Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Principal Instrument Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Instrument Engineer jobs are:
Principal Instrument Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Instrument Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Principal I&C Engineer

Principal I&C Engineer

Airswift

Houston, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Airswift is looking for a Principal I&C Engineer to work with one of our major LNG clients in Houston for a 6-month assignment with possible extension.
The Principal Instrument Engineer is a member of the Capital Project Team (CPT) and reports directly to the CPT Engineering Manager. The Engineer is primarily accountable for Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) of Engineering Deliverables by the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor beginning with Detailed Design through Commissioning and Startup.
Candidates must understand the setup and operation of the Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS), consisting of the Distributed Control System (DCS) sometimes referred to as the Basic Process Control System (BPCS), the Safety Instrumented System (SIS), and the Fire and Gas System (FGS). Candidate must understand the ICSS process control and safety functions required for the gas treatment and liquefaction process, and their role in safe, efficient, and reliable plant operations, with the objective of meeting business goals for production while minimizing unscheduled equipment down time. The role will be required to interface closely with the Operations teams and assist with troubleshooting as well as providing technical support.
Job Responsibilities:
  • Review and comment on Specifications and Data Sheets.
  • Review and comment on Detailed Design Deliverables.
  • Review and comment on Procurement Packages.
  • Review and comment on Supplier Document Deliverables.
  • Participate in Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) of ICSS and other Instrumentation Systems (infrequent domestic and international travel should be expected).
  • Participate in Site Acceptance Tests (SATs) of ICSS and packaged equipment.
  • Coordinate engineering and design interfaces between Instrumentation and other discipline teams in a strong matrix, multi-discipline project team environment.
  • Review project deliverable documents for completeness and accuracy, and check and approve Instrument design drawings.
  • Ensure EPC Contractor meets all regulatory requirements in a timely manner.
  • Review other disciplines and vendor print inter-squad drawings, and coordinate with other discipline leads to ensure effective quality product.
  • Ensure Contractor compliance with project schedule for Engineering and Construction.
  • Review as-built documentation process for all Instrumentation work.
  • Ensure instrument design, construction, and testing is code compliant.
  • Represent Owner in responses to EPC Contractor Change Orders.
  • Review Process Control narratives and the revision of these with any changes to control.
  • Participation in HAZOPs and HAZIDs as required.
  • Support Alarm Management. Interface with other Discipline Engineers and Operations to resolve issues.
  • Support Process Trip Investigation during startup.
  • Provide input to resolution of Process Control Design Issues found post-startup.
  • Ensure compliance with established site and corporate philosophies, standards, specifications and procedures related to the SIS, control and instrumentation.
  • Provide guidance to Smartplant Instrument (SI) use on Train 4 and interface with existing Trains 1-3 database.
  • Provide input to configuration of graphical displays.
  • Review all package unit inquiries and purchase order requisitions where instrumentation is to be furnished by a Vendor as part of the package unit.
  • Review unpriced requisitions and purchase orders of equipment and address any Technical Deviations from Project requirements.
  • Participate in any Contractor Engineering Audits for the Instrument Discipline.
Required Skills:
  • Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
  • Excellent planning and organizational skills and be able to evaluate and prioritize multiple tasks to ensure alignment with project goals.
  • Ability to effectively collaborate and work with all levels of the organization including operations, technical, plant management, contractors, vendors.
  • Strong interpersonal and conflict resolutions skills.
  • Ability to work safely, efficiently and effective with minimal guidance and direction.
  • Knowledgeable and familiar with tuning of loops, process control, DCS systems and graphics.
  • Knowledgeable Subject Matter Expert on Process Control and Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
  • Knowledgeable on Cause and Effect (SIS interlocks).
  • Excellent troubleshooting/analytical skills.
  • Familiarity with cyber security.
Education/Experience:
  • 15+ years of experience with process control automation systems (DCS) in an LNG Export/Import or petrochemical manufacturing facility.
  • Experience with Honeywell DCS.
Work Environment:
  • Must be able to wear all necessary PPE equipment to perform job functions.
  • Operates in a professional office environment within or outside of an industrial plant.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
  • Ability to drive to other Company work locations as required
  • Ability to move throughout all areas of the facility
  • While performing the duties of this role, incumbent will be required to talk and hear
  • May be required to enter confined spaces
  • May be required to work at elevated heights
This position requires a valid Transportation Worker Identification (TWIC) Card.
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