LEAD ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Published: Jan 28, 2026 - The Lead Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer develops electrical and instrumentation specifications, control system documentation, and accurate project estimates and schedules. This role requires expertise in ISA standards, PLC/HMI/DCS programming, CAD tools, and producing detailed engineering packages, including control narratives and valve sizing. The engineer also leads small teams, may serve as the engineer of record, and communicates effectively through clear technical writing and presentations.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Lead Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer Resume

  • Technical Authority
  • Scope Execution
  • KPI Management
  • Cost Estimation
  • Design Review
  • Construction Support
  • Instrumentation Design
  • Electrical Design
  • Power Analysis
  • Root Cause
  • Team Leadership
  • Task Supervision
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Problem Solving
  • Work Coordination
  • Technical Guidance
  • Team Mentoring
  • Vendor Coordination
  • Client Engagement
  • Resource Planning

Summary of Lead Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BS in Electrical Engineering with 12 years of Experience

  • Must have experience working with high-value engineering centres and in an engineering consultant environment
  • Excellent communication skills when working with cross-functional teams within the project and client office to provide guidance and input about instrument specifications and modifications
  • Knowledge of applicable codes and standards (AS, ASME, ASTM, ANSI, API, etc.)
  • Excellent team management skills in a challenging work environment
  • Proven track record for delivering projects within scope, budget, and schedule
  • High voltage experience, including fault level and harmonic system.
  • Ability to calculate, HV switchgear, and HV motors.
  • Medium voltage motor control centres and motor experience.
  • Qualified experience in Control Systems and Instrumentation Systems

2. BS in Instrumentation Engineering with 9 years of Experience

  • Knowledge and application of the current version of the National Electrical Code (NEC).
  • Ability to perform lighting level calculations.
  • Ability to size wire, conduit, and overcurrent protection for both lighting and power applications.
  • Ability to perform voltage drop calculations.
  • Ability to route conduit and cable tray.
  • Ability to calculate tray and conduit fill.
  • Ability to determine motor control center loading.
  • Familiarity with specifications and installation details of construction bulk materials and equipment.
  • Ability to create accurate electrical installation documents from the information found on vendor equipment drawings.
  • Ability to determine load center unit substation loading.
  • Ability to develop equipment specifications for equipment such as motor control centers, variable frequency drivers, induction and synchronous motors, load center unit substations, etc.
  • Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all electrical deliverables.
  • Ability to produce a 15kV power system single-line diagram.
  • Familiarity with 15kV power system equipment and installation techniques, both above and below ground.
  • Ability to develop equipment specifications for 15kV/5kV equipment, such as switchgear, load break switches, motor control center, and capable of performing calculations for required short circuit and overcurrent protective device ratings.

3. BS in Industrial Technology with 12 years of Experience

  • Ability to develop electrical installation specifications.
  • Ability to accurately estimate completion of assigned tasks.
  • Ability to develop a construction cost estimate, a detailed engineering schedule, and a man-hour budget for a small project or an area for a larger project.
  • Ability to determine construction material quantities.
  • Ability to contribute to the development of P&IDs with respect to measurement and control.
  • Ability to develop control narratives.
  • Ability to specify process instrumentation and develop installation details.
  • Ability to size control valves using appropriate software.
  • Ability to develop specifications and data sheets for instrumentation, analyzers, control systems, and actuated valves.
  • Knowledge of the standards that apply to instrumentation and controls (ISA).
  • Ability to act as discipline engineer of record for projects that require professional engineering certification.
  • Knowledge and application of the company's engineering design and CAD drafting standards.
  • Programming experience with Programmable Logic controller (PLC), Human Machine Interface (HMI), and/or Distributed Control System (DCS) equipment.
  • Ability to lead a small team to deliver on commitments.
  • Ability to deliver presentations of Hargrove Engineers and Constructors services.
  • Working knowledge of CAD software, either AutoCAD, Microstation, or both.
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Excellent presentation skills.

4. BS in Control Systems Engineering with 14 years of Experience

  • Experience in a manufacturing environment in pulp and paper, power generation, or other heavy industry.
  • Possess PMP certification
  • Ability to apply mathematical concepts and operations related to engineering design, computational analysis, reliability, and statistical methods, etc.
  • Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
  • Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, etc.) in its most difficult phases.
  • Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
  • Working knowledge and troubleshooting insight of power generation equipment, distribution systems up to 13.8 kV, digital (Schweitzer) and electromechanical relay protection, electrical maintenance of buses, breakers, and main transmission lines (MET1 and MET2) into the plant, AC and DC drives, arc flash studies and compliance, and DCS and PLC systems
  • Experience preparing engineering documentation such as loop diagrams, P&IDs, interconnections, PLC/DCS, I/O drawings, power plans, single line diagrams, etc.
  • Understanding of process control instrumentation (pH, conductivity, flow, pressure, level, temperature, etc.).
  • Results-focused with demonstrated success in execution.
  • Solid engineering acumen, experience, and understanding of best practices.
  • Strong communication skills both internally and externally.
  • Provides expertise to teams, both internally and externally.
  • Ability to respond to common inquiries for information from operations, maintenance, and mill-level management.
  • Ability to write technical documents and reports in the prescribed style and format.
  • Ability to effectively present information.
  • MS Office Suite and MS Project proficiency
  • SAP and SAP Project Systems familiarity
  • AutoCAD familiarity to medium level proficiency

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This content is part of Lamwork's career intelligence platform and is developed using structured analysis of real-world job data, including publicly available job descriptions, skill requirements, and hiring patterns.

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