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Senior Instrument Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Hygiena LLC

Sr Instrument Technician

Camarillo, CA · On-site

$25 - $27/hr

We are looking for a Sr Instrument Technician to join our team in Camarillo, CA! This is a ... Associate degree or technical certification in Electronics, Biomedical Technology, Engineering ...

Teledyne

Senior Instrument Tester

San Diego, CA

Provides structured feedback to Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing to improve product design, manufacturability, and testability Cross-Functional Technical Leadership * Interfaces with ...

Teledyne

Senior Instrument Tester

San Diego, CA

Provides structured feedback to Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing to improve product design, manufacturability, and testability Cross-Functional Technical Leadership * Interfaces with ...

Masimo

Sr Engineer, Embedded GUI Software

Irvine, CA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

As a Sr Instrument Software Engineer, you will design, develop, and maintain high-performance graphical applications for next-generation patient monitoring devices. This role leverages strong ...

Masimo

Sr Engineer, Embedded GUI Software

Irvine, CA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

As a Sr Instrument Software Engineer, you will design, develop, and maintain high-performance graphical applications for next-generation patient monitoring devices. This role leverages strong ...

Anvil Corporation

Sr. Control Systems Engineer

Caspar, CA · On-site

$184K - $191K/yr

JOB SUMMARY This is a senior level control systems and instrumentation engineer position. The ... RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES Provide SME-level instrument engineering for small to large capital and ...

Masimo

Sr Engineer, BSP Instrument Software

Irvine, CA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

The Sr Engineer, BSP Instrument Software will be involved in the design and development of our medical instruments from requirements stage through to deployment. They will support EOL hardware ...

Masimo

Sr Engineer, BSP Instrument Software

Irvine, CA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

The Sr Engineer, BSP Instrument Software will be involved in the design and development of our medical instruments from requirements stage through to deployment. They will support EOL hardware ...

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All JobsInstrument Engineer JobsSenior Instrument Engineer JobsSenior Instrument Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Instrument Engineer information

See California salary details

$78K

$115.3K

$162.8K

How much do senior instrument engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior instrument engineer in California is $115,309.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,800.00 and $135,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Instrument Engineers when working on multidisciplinary projects?

Senior Instrument Engineers often encounter challenges coordinating with other engineering disciplines, such as process, electrical, and mechanical teams, to ensure instrumentation specifications align with overall project requirements. Integrating new instrumentation technologies into existing systems while maintaining compliance with safety and industry standards can also be demanding. Effective communication, strong project management skills, and adaptability are essential to successfully navigate these complexities and ensure project deliverables are met on time and within budget.

What does a Senior Instrument Engineer do?

A Senior Instrument Engineer is responsible for designing, specifying, installing, and maintaining instrumentation and control systems used in industrial processes. They ensure that these systems function efficiently, safely, and reliably to monitor and control variables such as pressure, temperature, and flow. Senior Instrument Engineers often lead projects, troubleshoot complex issues, and provide technical guidance to junior engineers. They also collaborate with other engineering disciplines to optimize process performance and comply with industry standards.

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

To thrive as a Senior Instrument Engineer, you typically need a degree in engineering (often electrical, instrumentation, or control engineering) and extensive experience with instrumentation design, installation, and maintenance. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as PLCs, DCS, CAD software, and familiarity with relevant codes and certifications like ISA or IEC are essential. Strong problem-solving, project management, and communication skills help coordinate teams and interface with other engineering disciplines. These skills and qualities ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of complex industrial processes.

What is the difference between Senior Instrument Engineer vs Instrument Technician?

AspectSenior Instrument EngineerInstrument Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in Engineering, certifications like CSE or ISATechnical diploma or associate degree, specialized training
Work EnvironmentDesign, project management, troubleshooting in industrial plantsInstallation, maintenance, calibration on-site
Industry UsageEngineering firms, oil & gas, manufacturingRefineries, power plants, process industries

While both roles involve instrumentation, the Senior Instrument Engineer focuses on design, planning, and troubleshooting at a higher level, often overseeing projects. The Instrument Technician handles hands-on installation, maintenance, and calibration tasks. Both roles are essential in industrial settings but differ in responsibilities and required qualifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Instrument Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Instrument Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Instrument Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Instrument Engineer job openings:
Senior Instrument Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Instrument Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,309 per year, or $55.4 per hour.
Senior Instrument Systems Engineer

Senior Instrument Systems Engineer

Muon Space

San Diego, CA

$184K - $223K/yr

Other

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

About the role

Muon seeks a Senior Instrument Systems Engineer to join our team in Mountain View or San Jose, CA with a focus on infrared remote sensing instruments. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated engineer with a versatile skill set who is comfortable working across many layers of technical depth from individual components through system level. This role will be a key member of the instrument engineering team, driving development from concept through on-orbit operations for our national security missions. Previous experience developing and operating infrared electro-optical systems, remote sensing instruments, and test infrastructure in fast-paced and small-team environments is preferred.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our Mountain View or San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities
  • Lead instrument architecture trades, define concept of operations, own radiometric model and throughput budget, drive requirements decomposition/flowdown and verification and validation (V&V) planning.
  • Develop and manage technical budgets, including mass, power, thermal, line-of-sight pointing/jitter, and data volume, to ensure adequate margins throughout development.
  • Develop comprehensive interface control documents (ICDs) across mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software interfaces, to drive a modular instrument architecture.
  • Support optical instrument assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) planning and implementation, including collaboration with cross-functional teams.
  • Champion the continuous improvement of systems engineering methodologies, tools, and best practices to enhance overall efficiency in instrument development.
  • Collaborate and communicate effectively with subsystem engineers and analysts, instrument and spacecraft systems engineers, AI&T and production teams, program managers, external partner teams, and other stakeholders.
  • This position participates in a 24/7 on-call rotation to support on-orbit anomaly resolution. The on-call rotation is approximately one week per month.
Qualifications
  • B.S, M.S., or Ph.D. in an engineering field, or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years of experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment, with exposure to imaging systems, infrared remote sensing instruments, and spacecraft.
  • Software skills in one or more languages (e.g. Python, Julia).
  • Experience with root cause analysis efforts including data analysis and testing.
  • Experience performing data analysis, post-processing, and test report generation.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and organization skills.
  • Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges each week.
  • Ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance required, active clearance strongly preferred.
Nice-to-have Skills
  • Experience integrating and interpreting STOP analysis results to drive instrument design trades and error budget allocations.
  • Experience working hands-on with precision optical and mechanical metrology equipment.
  • Experience supporting environmental testing (thermal stress screening, TVAC, random vibration), integrated spacecraft testing, and launch campaigns.
  • Experience working in cleanroom environments.
Salary

The salary range for this role is $184,000 to $223,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process. 

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