- Technicians and Technologists
- Instrumentation Engineering Technologist
- NOCs #22302, #22310
Instrumentation Engineering Technologist
In the intriguing world of electrical control and instrumentation systems, the instrumentation engineering technologist designs, adapts, installs, maintains and repairs these intricate systems. In the energy industry, electronic instruments communicate with well systems and equipment in refineries, upgraders and pipelines. Are you up for the challenge?
Instrumentation engineering technologists operate and maintain electrical and electronic equipment and systems. They may work with engineers and others to design, specify, size and select measurement and control systems. Instrumentation engineering technologists may also program and configure microprocessor-based measurement and control systems or oversee diagnostic programs and the installation of instrumentation systems.
Instrumentation engineering technologists coordinate with other trades or vendors involved with construction or ongoing maintenance activities. They work with pneumatic devices, control valves, electronic instruments, digital logic devices, computer-based process controls and control system design.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Oil sands, Pipelines, Offshore
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $54,000 to $89,000
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
In this occupation activities may include:
- Providing expertise in the evaluation, selection and installation of new instrumentation and analytical equipment
- Recommending and implementing modifications to improve measurement and control systems
- Performing or arranging for the required maintenance, calibration and repair of analytical equipment, instrumentation, controls and their associated systems
- Managing preventative maintenance and calibration programs
- Repairing or replacing defective or worn electrical, electronic or instrument parts
- Designing, developing and testing power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks and computer software
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in instrumentation engineering technology or computer engineering technology is typically required.
- Familiarity with design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD.
Licensing
- Membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists and work experience is required to use the title Professional Technologist. Additional compliance criteria may apply depending on the province or territory. In some cases, provincial legislation recognizes Professional Technologists as licensees under the local professional engineering organization, capable of practicing professional engineering within a limited scope.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
You have strong computer skills as you need to be able to use many new software packages to do your job effectively. Having a strong aptitude for math, chemistry and physics, you can visualize 3D objects from 2D drawings.
- Troubleshooting
- Computer use
- Operation and control
- Operation monitoring
- Repairing
- Critical thinking
- Operations analysis
- Equipment maintenance
- Programming
- Installation
- Sub-sector Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Emissions reduction
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an instrumentation engineering technologist in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to cleantech – especially in the carbon capture, utilization and storage and emissions reduction cleantech sub-sectors. Workers may find positions in the emissions reduction sub-sector likely to be term contracts, with a project-to-project approach with more travel required in the role.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Providing expertise in the evaluation, selection and installation of new instrumentation and analytical equipment
- Recommending and implementing modifications to improve measurement and control systems
- Performing or arranging for the required maintenance, calibration and repair of analytical equipment, instrumentation, controls and their associated systems
- Managing preventative maintenance and calibration programs
- Repairing or replacing defective or worn electrical, electronic or instrument parts
- Designing, developing and testing power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks and computer software
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in instrumentation engineering technology or computer engineering technology is typically required.
- Familiarity with design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD.
Licensing
- Membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists and work experience is required to use the title Professional Technologist. Additional compliance criteria may apply depending on the province or territory. In some cases, provincial legislation recognizes Professional Technologists as licensees under the local professional engineering organization, capable of practicing professional engineering within a limited scope.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Travel required (emissions reduction)
- Primarily indoor/office work (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (emissions reduction)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Safety-sensitive environment (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Transition to a similar level (CCUS | emissions reduction)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
You have strong computer skills as you need to be able to use many new software packages to do your job effectively. Having a strong aptitude for math, chemistry and physics, you can visualize 3D objects from 2D drawings.
- Troubleshooting
- Computer use
- Operation and control
- Operation monitoring
- Repairing
- Critical thinking
- Operations analysis
- Equipment maintenance
- Programming
- Installation
- Sub-sector Contracted and turnaround maintenance, Modular fabrication, Construction, Start-up and commissioning, Engineering, design and procurement
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an instrumentation engineering technologist in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to industrial construction and maintenance in energy.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Providing expertise in the evaluation, selection and installation of new instrumentation and analytical equipment
- Recommending and implementing modifications to improve measurement and control systems
- Performing or arranging for the required maintenance, calibration and repair of analytical equipment, instrumentation, controls and their associated systems
- Managing preventative maintenance and calibration programs
- Repairing or replacing defective or worn electrical, electronic or instrument parts
- Designing, developing and testing power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks and computer software
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in instrumentation engineering technology or computer engineering technology is typically required.
- Familiarity with design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD.
Licensing
- Membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists and work experience is required to use the title Professional Technologist. Additional compliance criteria may apply depending on the province or territory. In some cases, provincial legislation recognizes Professional Technologists as licensees under the local professional engineering organization, capable of practicing professional engineering within a limited scope.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (start-up and commissioning)
- Primarily indoor/office work (contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (contracted and turnaround maintenance | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Safety-sensitive environment (contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Potentially unionized (contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
You have strong computer skills as you need to be able to use many new software packages to do your job effectively. Having a strong aptitude for math, chemistry and physics, you can visualize 3D objects from 2D drawings.
- Troubleshooting
- Computer use
- Operation and control
- Operation monitoring
- Repairing
- Critical thinking
- Operations analysis
- Equipment maintenance
- Programming
- Installation
The industrial construction and maintenance in energy sector is further divided into project life cycle phases:
Contracted and turnaround maintenance
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Modular fabrication
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
Construction
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Start-up and commissioning
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Engineering, design and procurement
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
What does this mean for workers?
There could be differences in the expected salary range and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an instrumentation engineering technologist in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to digitization and automation in energy.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Providing expertise in the evaluation, selection and installation of new instrumentation and analytical equipment
- Recommending and implementing modifications to improve measurement and control systems
- Performing or arranging for the required maintenance, calibration and repair of analytical equipment, instrumentation, controls and their associated systems
- Managing preventative maintenance and calibration programs
- Repairing or replacing defective or worn electrical, electronic or instrument parts
- Designing, developing and testing power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks and computer software
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in instrumentation engineering technology or computer engineering technology is typically required.
- Familiarity with design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD.
Licensing
- Membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists and work experience is required to use the title Professional Technologist. Additional compliance criteria may apply depending on the province or territory. In some cases, provincial legislation recognizes Professional Technologists as licensees under the local professional engineering organization, capable of practicing professional engineering within a limited scope.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to digitization and automation include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
You have strong computer skills as you need to be able to use many new software packages to do your job effectively. Having a strong aptitude for math, chemistry and physics, you can visualize 3D objects from 2D drawings.
- Troubleshooting
- Computer use
- Operation and control
- Operation monitoring
- Repairing
- Critical thinking
- Operations analysis
- Equipment maintenance
- Programming
- Installation
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an Instrumentation engineering technologist in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to LNG facility operation.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Providing expertise in the evaluation, selection and installation of new instrumentation and analytical equipment
- Recommending and implementing modifications to improve measurement and control systems
- Performing or arranging for the required maintenance, calibration and repair of analytical equipment, instrumentation, controls and their associated systems
- Managing preventative maintenance and calibration programs
- Repairing or replacing defective or worn electrical, electronic or instrument parts
- Designing, developing and testing power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks and computer software
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in instrumentation engineering technology or computer engineering technology is typically required.
- Familiarity with design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD.
Licensing
- Membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists and work experience is required to use the title Professional Technologist. Additional compliance criteria may apply depending on the province or territory. In some cases, provincial legislation recognizes Professional Technologists as licensees under the local professional engineering organization, capable of practicing professional engineering within a limited scope.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to LNG include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
You have strong computer skills as you need to be able to use many new software packages to do your job effectively. Having a strong aptitude for math, chemistry and physics, you can visualize 3D objects from 2D drawings.
- Troubleshooting
- Computer use
- Operation and control
- Operation monitoring
- Repairing
- Critical thinking
- Operations analysis
- Equipment maintenance
- Programming
- Installation
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an instrumentation engineering technologist in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to petrochemicals and refining.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Providing expertise in the evaluation, selection and installation of new instrumentation and analytical equipment
- Recommending and implementing modifications to improve measurement and control systems
- Performing or arranging for the required maintenance, calibration and repair of analytical equipment, instrumentation, controls and their associated systems
- Managing preventative maintenance and calibration programs
- Repairing or replacing defective or worn electrical, electronic or instrument parts
- Designing, developing and testing power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks and computer software
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in instrumentation engineering technology or computer engineering technology is typically required.
- Familiarity with design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD.
Licensing
- Membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists and work experience is required to use the title Professional Technologist. Additional compliance criteria may apply depending on the province or territory. In some cases, provincial legislation recognizes Professional Technologists as licensees under the local professional engineering organization, capable of practicing professional engineering within a limited scope.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
You have strong computer skills as you need to be able to use many new software packages to do your job effectively. Having a strong aptitude for math, chemistry and physics, you can visualize 3D objects from 2D drawings.
- Troubleshooting
- Computer use
- Operation and control
- Operation monitoring
- Repairing
- Critical thinking
- Operations analysis
- Equipment maintenance
- Programming
- Installation
- Sub-sector Geothermal, Solar, Wind
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as an instrumentation engineering technologist in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to renewables. Workers may find the average salary range for the solar and wind sub-sectors to be less than the average oil and natural gas salary range, while the average salary range for the geothermal sub-sector is likely to be similar to oil and natural gas.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Providing expertise in the evaluation, selection and installation of new instrumentation and analytical equipment
- Recommending and implementing modifications to improve measurement and control systems
- Performing or arranging for the required maintenance, calibration and repair of analytical equipment, instrumentation, controls and their associated systems
- Managing preventative maintenance and calibration programs
- Repairing or replacing defective or worn electrical, electronic or instrument parts
- Designing, developing and testing power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks and computer software
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in instrumentation engineering technology or computer engineering technology is typically required.
- Familiarity with design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD.
Licensing
- Membership in the regulatory body for professional technologists and work experience is required to use the title Professional Technologist. Additional compliance criteria may apply depending on the province or territory. In some cases, provincial legislation recognizes Professional Technologists as licensees under the local professional engineering organization, capable of practicing professional engineering within a limited scope.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (solar | wind)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Safety-sensitive environment (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Transition to a similar level (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Urban location (solar | wind)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
You have strong computer skills as you need to be able to use many new software packages to do your job effectively. Having a strong aptitude for math, chemistry and physics, you can visualize 3D objects from 2D drawings.
- Troubleshooting
- Computer use
- Operation and control
- Operation monitoring
- Repairing
- Critical thinking
- Operations analysis
- Equipment maintenance
- Programming
- Installation
The renewables sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
Geothermal
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Solar
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
Wind
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
What does this mean for workers?
There could be differences in the expected salary range and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
