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Principal Instrument Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Leonardo DRS

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$134K - $208K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of C ... Develop and maintain C++ software for instrument communication, hardware control, and GUI ...

Salesforce, Inc.

Principal AI Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

Define and instrument success metrics for every agent (time saved, throughput, accuracy, cost ... principal/engineer-level roles * Strong experience designing and building distributed systems ...

Salesforce, Inc.

Principal AI Engineer

Seattle, WA

Define and instrument success metrics for every agent (time saved, throughput, accuracy, cost ... principal/engineer-level roles * Strong experience designing and building distributed systems ...

Salesforce, Inc.

Principal AI Engineer

Chicago, IL

Define and instrument success metrics for every agent (time saved, throughput, accuracy, cost ... principal/engineer-level roles * Strong experience designing and building distributed systems ...

Leonardo DRS

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$134K - $208K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of C ... Develop and maintain C++ software for instrument communication, hardware control, and GUI ...

Electra

Principal Systems Test Engineer

Manassas, VA · On-site

Principal Systems Test Engineer About Electra At Electra, we're building the EL9 - a nine-passenger ... Lead and mentor development of instrument and data acquisition capabilities for ground and flight ...

Electra

Principal Systems Test Engineer

Manassas, VA · On-site

Principal Systems Test Engineer About Electra At Electra, we're building the EL9 - a nine-passenger ... Lead and mentor development of instrument and data acquisition capabilities for ground and flight ...

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All JobsPrincipal Instrument Engineer Jobs

Principal Instrument Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal instrument engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 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 May 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Principal Process Automation Engineer

Worley Consulting

Houston, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

Principal Process Automation Engineer
Worley Consulting Group
Americas
Worley Consulting. Be part of the solution.
Worley Consulting is a global group of consultants, scientists, engineers, and digital experts dedicated to solving the world's critical infrastructure, environmental, energy, and resource challenges.
We partner with our customers to find solutions that create value over the life of their assets. We implement new technologies to run assets more efficiently, secure and safeguard social license, support local communities, and accelerate the energy transition.
We evaluate options and identify opportunities and risks to support our customers' decision making. We assist with asset strategy and selection, business case preparation, concept and feasibility studies, technology evaluation, energy strategies and asset operational excellence.
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this role is to drive execution of automation engineering projects within the Autonomous and Automation Americas team by leveraging cutting-edge digital, technology, and autonomous solutions across multiple vendor platforms. The consultant will play a pivotal role in delivering innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in mining, on-shore or off-shore operations.
This is a full-time hybrid position based in Houston, Texas, Denver, Colorado, or Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Overall Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities
  • Strong self-starter, entrepreneurial mindset and motivated.
  • Work with Worley offices to share work and integrate staff on projects for a blended execution team.
  • Project experience including coordinating interfaces with engineering partners, construction contractors, equipment manufacturers, system integrators and project management as well as technical disciplines including process, civil, structural, piping, mechanical, and electrical.
  • Desire to expand role and be adaptable to client's needs.
  • Assists, and later, leads the preparation of proposals, execution plans and budgets.
  • Project experience working on all engineering phases within a project from concept through design and engineering, construction support, and commissioning/validation and handover.
  • Programming and configuring PLC and DCS platforms while leading a team for project implementation. Hands on and leading.
  • Team will be responsible for producing process automation deliverables - control narratives, cause and effect drawings, Boolean logic diagrams, DCS / SIS / PLC functional specifications, produce system cabinet layout drawings, wiring diagrams, system card layout and loading. Also, basic I&C deliverables such as instrument datasheets, instrument index, wiring diagrams, system architecture will be in scope.
  • Project experience in the development and commissioning of complex automation projects.
  • Excellent communication skills including ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, produce concise reports and presentations appropriate for all levels.
  • Takes ownership for project success: delivery of target quality, cost management and customer satisfaction.
  • Proactively builds a knowledge base of tools and methodologies to drive productivity and growth.
  • Lead role in work process improvement.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment.
  • Travel as required for various field programs - can be 25-50% depending on project phase and assignment.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering discipline (Electrical, Instrumentation Computer Systems, Chemical).
  • P.E. license a plus.
  • 10-12+ years' experience with expertise in leading control systems projects in the industry and managing a team.
  • Experience in the following sectors a plus: Mining, LNG, petrochemical, oil and gas, or nuclear industries.
  • Specific front end engineering experience developing project scope, control system philosophy, systems architecture, process safety studies, SIL determination, P&ID development and building TIC estimates a must.
  • Experience programming and configuring PLC platforms - preferably Rockwell.
  • Experience programming and configuring DCS Platforms - preferably Honeywell a plus.
  • Experience in developing Total Installed Cost (TIC) estimates for capital projects, including performing material takeoffs and utilizing estimating software tools (Cleopatra preferred). Must have a strong background in compiling material quantities for process automation-intensive projects to produce accurate TIC estimates.
  • Ability to produce process automation deliverables - control narratives, cause and effect dwgs, boolean logic diagrams, DCS / SIS / PLC functional specifications, produce system cabinet layout dwgs, wiring diagrams, system card layout and loading.
  • Able to produce basic I&C deliverables such as instrument datasheets, instrument index, wiring diagrams, system architecture.
  • Detailed design experience should include:
    • Selection, specification and procurement of field instrumentation.
    • Selection, specification and procurement of BPCS/SIS systems.
    • Experience with design deliverables such as instrument and IO indexes, written specifications, cause and effect diagrams, PLC / DCS / SIS Systems networking and architecture, binary logic diagrams, instrument datasheets, FAT & SAT protocols, proof test protocols, construction scope of works and project execution plans and schedules.
  • Experience working in the field with specific support for construction management, FAT and SAT, installation qualification, commissioning and handover.
  • Experience in the full lifecycle of automation development, from planning, development, testing, commissioning and operations.

Additional Information:
Salary Range: For Houston, Texas and Denver, Colorado based candidates, $160,650-$236,250 annually, commensurate with experience.
Worley Consulting offers an excellent remuneration & benefits package, a friendly, professional, dynamic and flexible work environment along with the opportunity to develop your career prospects locally and internationally.
We strive to be an industry leader in health, safety and environmental performance. Our vision is to achieve zero harm to people and assets, and zero environmental incidents. We select people who share our values, beliefs and commitment to this vision and who demonstrate the expected behaviors, competencies and performance associated with their prospective roles within the company.
We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels they belong, can bring themselves, and are heard. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.
Our policy is to conduct background checks for all candidates who accept an offer of employment with us.
We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Worley Group is an equal opportunity employer.

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