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Senior Instrumentation Engineer Jobs in Virginia

The Senior Process Engineer interacts with the plant teams, business groups and R&D to identify and ... Process equipment and instrumentation sizing and specification * Evaluation of Process Economics

The Senior Process Engineer interacts with the plant teams, business groups and R&D to identify and ... Process equipment and instrumentation sizing and specification * Evaluation of Process Economics

Senior Facilities Engineer

Reston, VA ยท On-site

$116.35 - $210.32/hr

Leidos has an opening for a Senior Facilities Engineer in Reston, Virginia. The primary focus of ... manuals, Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), and electrical and HVAC schematics.

Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Virginia Beach, VA ยท On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Senior Geotechnical Engineer Department: Geotechnical Employment Type: Full Time Location: Virginia ... instrumentation, drilling activities and utility-clearance coordination. * Complete and review ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Norfolk, VA ยท On-site

$101K - $133K/yr

BB&E is an employee-owned, full service civil and environmental engineering and consulting firm ... instrumentation and control systems, chilled water, steam, hot water, compressed gasses, natural ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Norfolk, VA ยท On-site

$101K - $133K/yr

Position Summary BB&E is currently looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to support our NAVFAC ... instrumentation and control systems, chilled water, steam, hot water, compressed gasses, natural ...

Sr. Process Engineer

Chester, VA ยท On-site

$95K - $123K/yr

The Senior Process Engineer interacts with the plant teams, business groups and R&D to identify and ... Process equipment and instrumentation sizing and specification * Evaluation of Process Economics

Senior Facilities Engineer

Reston, VA ยท On-site

$44.50 - $60.75/hr

Leidos has an opening for a Senior Facilities Engineer in Reston, Virginia. The primary focus of ... manuals, Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), and electrical and HVAC schematics.

Senior Facilities Engineer

Reston, VA ยท On-site

$44.50 - $60.75/hr

Leidos has an opening for a Senior Facilities Engineer in Reston, Virginia. The primary focus of ... manuals, Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), and electrical and HVAC schematics.

Showing results 41-60

Senior Instrumentation Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$78.3K

$115.8K

$163.6K

How much do senior instrumentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior instrumentation engineer in Virginia is $115,837.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,200.00 and $135,800.00 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 Virginia?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Senior Instrumentation Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,837 per year, or $55.7 per hour.

Senior Automation Systems Engineer, NA

Vantage Data Centers

Sterling, VA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$103K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

About Vantage Data Centers


Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world's well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Automation SystemsGroup

The Automation Systems Groupis responsible forthe design, construction and support ofcutting-edgedata center automation and control infrastructure. The department collaborates with Operations, Sales, Engineering, Information Technology and Management to ensure the system continues to fulfill Vantage customer requirements. Automation Systems works closely with partner contractors todevelopthe best designsand helps manage these partners to success by providingaccuraterequirements, goals, and timelines. In addition to design and construction, we are also responsible for the technical requirements of the Operations department involving troubleshooting, calibrating, and repairing mission critical control systems throughout all Vantage locations.


Position Overview

This role can be based at any of our US Locations with a flexible work arrangement: 3 days on-site and 2 days remote.

Vantage is looking for an ambitious, detail-oriented, hands-on Senior Automation Systems Engineer to leadSCADA(Ignition)and PLC(Rockwell)software developmentsupporting both new construction and sustaining mission-critical data center infrastructure. This role functions as a senior individual contributor withintheAutomation Development teamwith expectations for technical ownership, architectural decision-making, and cross-team influence.

You will review mechanical and electrical drawings, sequences of operation, and instrumentation diagrams to develop andmaintainscalable, reusable automation logic and visualization applications. This role contributes to standardization and continuous improvement efforts across the Vantage North America portfolio whilemaintainingequal responsibility for both new builds and live production systems. You may also be called on to provide escalation support and technicalexpertisefor troubleshooting, commissioning, and validation activities in live, mission-critical environments.

Essential Job Functions

  • Support andmaintaingraphics, UDT, and PLC code repositories, including change management, version control practices, and controlled release into production environments

  • Coordinate with internal Automation Engineering stakeholders, project teams, and contractors to ensure alignment with company goals, standards, and critical continuous improvement initiatives

  • Drive, develop, and manage automation standards, architecture guidelines, SOPs, and user documentation supporting both regional and portfolio-wide needs

  • Design and evolve automation architectures, data models, UDT frameworks, and reusable logic to support new construction and sustaining operations

  • Support development, testing, and controlled deployment of new automation applications and updates

  • Provideremoteand limited on-sitedevelopment-focused support during commissioning activities, including validation of software functionality, alarming behavior, and data integrity

  • Participate in design reviews of drawings & models, attendprojectcoordination meetings, review submittals, andparticipatein factory acceptance testing

  • Collaborate with Design, Engineering, Construction, Reliability Engineering, Site Operations, and Automation Engineering peers to deliver and sustain reliable automation solutions

  • Act as an escalation and advisory resource for complex automation issuesimpactinglive, mission-critical systems

  • Develop automation logic and visualization applications based on project documentation including drawings, sequences of operation, bills of material, and instrumentation diagrams

  • Design andmaintainIgnition gateway architectures, including redundancy, performance, and long-term maintainability considerations

  • Promote abstraction, reuse, and standardization of automation logic across the portfolio

  • Provide technical leadership to integration team members and staff augmentation resources without direct people management responsibility

  • Provide technical support, guidance, and training to team members on control systems, instrumentation, and related technologies.

Job Requirements

  • Advanced knowledge of the Ignition (Inductive Automation) SCADA platformor Rockwell AutomationPLCsisrequired

  • Five years of experience in industrial SCADAor PLC based controlssystemdevelopmentrequired, with seven to nine years preferred

  • Data center experience strongly preferred but notrequired

  • Strong understanding of automation systems including control loops, field I/O, and mission-critical control system behavior

  • Experience with industrial PLC platforms, including but not limited to Rockwell Automation and Carel systems

  • Demonstrated familiarity with the development and interpretation of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), control narratives, and control panel drawings.

  • Ability to analyze and incorporate network architecture diagrams, equipment specifications, installation requirements, instrumentation lists, and sequence of operations into project designs and deliverables

  • Familiarity with software development tools and practices such as version control systems and structured code reviews preferred

  • Working knowledge of startup and commissioning procedures for industrial automation and control systems, including system verification, functional testing, and issue resolution

  • Experience in calibration, startup and commissioning of industrial controls systems is preferred

  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills with the ability toidentify, diagnose, and resolve technical issues effectively

  • Proventrack recordof delivering control system projects from concept to completion while coordinating cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and project deliverables

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with team members, clients, and stakeholders

  • Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

  • Demonstrated ability to take technical ownership, influence across teams, and make sound engineering decisions

  • Proficiencywith Microsoft Office and SharePoint

  • Travel required up to approximately 25 percent, with potential variation based on business needs

Physical Demands and Special Requirements

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop or kneel; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Details

  • Salary Range: $145,000- $155,000 + Bonus (this range is based on Colorado market data and may vary in other locations)

  • This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits.

  • Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including your qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.

#LI-HYBRID #LI-AO2

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other's strengths and respecting each other's weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.


Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Vantage Data Centers does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage Data Centers.

We'll be accepting applications for at least one week from the date this role is posted. If you're interested, we encourage you to apply soon-we're excited to find the right person and will keep the role open until we do!