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Senior Instrumentation Engineer Jobs in California

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 position requires strong technical ability to both perform engineering tasks and lead others, ability to ...

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Senior Instrumentation Engineer information

See California salary details

$78K

$115.3K

$162.8K

How much do senior instrumentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior instrumentation 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 is a senior instrumentation engineer?

Senior Instrumentation Engineers are experienced professionals responsible for designing, developing, installing, managing, and maintaining equipment used to monitor and control engineering systems, machinery, and processes. They play a key role in ensuring that instruments and control systems operate efficiently, reliably, and safely. Their work spans various industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, chemical processing, and energy production. Senior Instrumentation Engineers often lead teams, oversee project implementation, and troubleshoot complex issues related to instrumentation and automation systems.

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

AspectSenior Instrumentation EngineerInstrumentation Technician
QualificationsBachelor's degree in Engineering, certifications in instrumentationTechnical diploma or associate degree, on-the-job training
Work EnvironmentDesign, project management, troubleshooting in industrial plantsInstallation, maintenance, calibration in manufacturing or processing facilities
ResponsibilitiesDesigning systems, overseeing projects, troubleshooting complex issuesPerforming routine maintenance, calibrations, and repairs

While both roles involve instrumentation, Senior Instrumentation Engineers focus on design, planning, and complex troubleshooting, whereas Instrumentation Technicians handle hands-on maintenance and calibration tasks. The senior engineer typically requires higher education and oversees projects, while technicians support daily operations through technical skills.

How does a senior instrumentation engineer typically collaborate with other engineering disciplines on large-scale projects?

A Senior Instrumentation Engineer often works closely with process, electrical, and mechanical engineers to ensure that instrumentation systems align with overall plant design and operational requirements. Collaboration involves participating in multidisciplinary meetings, reviewing P&IDs, coordinating interface points, and integrating control systems. Effective communication and teamwork are crucial, as instrumentation decisions can impact safety, efficiency, and maintenance across the project. This collaborative environment supports seamless project execution and fosters professional growth through knowledge sharing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior instrumentation engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Instrumentation Engineer, you need a solid background in instrumentation engineering, process control, and project management, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree and significant field experience. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as PLC/DCS systems, AutoCAD, and certifications like ISA CAP or PE are highly valued. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you lead teams and collaborate across disciplines. These competencies are essential for ensuring reliable system design, efficient project execution, and adherence to safety and industry standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Instrumentation Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Instrumentation Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs in California?

For Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Instrumentation Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs in CA?

For Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Senior Instrumentation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Instrumentation Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,309 per year, or $55.4 per hour.

Senior Instrument Systems Engineer

Muon Space

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$166K - $223K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

About the role
Muon seeks a Senior Instrument Systems Engineer to join our team in Mountain View, CA or Remote, 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.
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 $166,000 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.
About Muon Space
Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world.
Taking Care of Our Team
At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, full-time employees receive equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.
Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too. Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
ITAR/EAR Requirements
This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.

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