WHAT DOES AN INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN DO?

Published: Sep 18, 2025 - The Instrument Technician performs calibration, repair, and integrity checks on process instrumentation to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance with operational standards. This position supports engineering and production teams by providing technical assistance in the application and modification of process instruments, while strictly adhering to safety protocols, including work permits and energy isolation procedures. The technician also conducts diagnostic evaluations of equipment failures, including PLCs and DCS systems, troubleshoots basic electrical issues, and promotes operational excellence and housekeeping as a role model for maintenance contractors.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Instrument Technician

1. Instrument Technician Duties

  • HSE Improvement: Support a culture of continuous HSE performance improvement via transfer of knowledge and sharing of best practices
  • Standards Compliance: Ensure compliance with company performance standards
  • Team Liaison: Liaise with the instrument team lead and site leadership to determine and agree on priorities
  • Maintenance Execution: Carry out maintenance activities in accordance with the client and industry standard policies and procedures
  • Site Reinstatement: Ensure equipment, systems and work sites are reinstated to the required standard
  • Permit Control: Utilise the ISSOW system to act as PA, control worksite and liaise with the AA
  • Vendor Support: Support the instrument, control vendors and subcontractors
  • Technical Guidance: Provide guidance and support for all team members in terms of instrumental technical issues
  • Workplace Communication: Maintain effective communication with work colleagues at all levels
  • Data Recording: Ensure work history is comprehensively recorded in line with data quality requirements for maintenance-related activity
  • Leadership Support: Stand in for the instrument team lead when identified and suitably trained
  • Production Contribution: Actively contribute towards production management and effective utilisation of the asset’s production loss management system
  • Threat Identification: Identify asset threats and opportunities and actively support the maintenance process
  • Cost Reduction: Identify opportunities for cost reduction and removal of low-value activities

2. Instrument Technician Details

  • Process Safety: Support the process safety and risk management goals and objectives
  • Risk Reduction: Participate in site-wide process safety and risk reduction activities and look for opportunities to be the fresh set of eyes in this area
  • Safety Training: Actively participate in plant-wide training to support quality and safety needs, including ISO and OSHA VPP
  • Work Reliability: Provide attention to detail and dedication to work to ensure reliability of the work site, as well as high-quality product
  • Employee Growth: Ensure employees are supported and encouraged to grow and succeed in their job
  • Problem Diagnosis: Be responsible for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of minor problems and the implementation of corrective action
  • Vendor Consultation: Consult directly with equipment vendors on problems for resolution
  • Specification Research: Research specifications for materials, testing and repair of instrumentation and electrical equipment

3. Instrument Technician Responsibilities

  • System Calibration: Ensure that instrumentation and control systems are properly specified, installed, programmed and calibrated to perform the design function
  • System Troubleshooting: Perform equipment or system instrumentation and controls troubleshooting
  • Calibration Assessment: Conduct periodic assessment or inspection of field device calibration frequencies and address "bad actor" instrument performance for replacement or upgrade
  • Hardware Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot analog or digital hardware-related problems on process control systems and instrumentation, including distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), single loop analog controllers and any related peripherals such as scanners, recorders, field I/O devices, etc.
  • Precision Tools: Use precision tools and equipment to complete tasks related to instrumentation or controls installation, maintenance and troubleshooting
  • Specification Development: Assist in the development of functional specifications and or design on process control systems for controls programming on major equipment or systems
  • Validation Support: Support validation efforts as well as maintain instrumentation and control equipment in a validated status
  • Project Commissioning: Support project commissioning associated with instrumentation and control equipment
  • Safety Compliance: Follow all plant and department procedures, GMPs, JSAs and general plant safety rules
  • Team Leadership: Lead other personnel and or external service providers in completion of duties
  • Activity Recording: Record and communicate daily activity in an organized manner

4. Instrument Technician Job Summary

  • Calibration Check: Check calibrations on flow meters, pH transmitters, electronic or pneumatic valve positioners, control valves, valve actuators, mass flow meters, D/P cell transmitters and thermocouple or RTD transmitters
  • Instrument Recalibration: Recalibrate instruments during major overhauls
  • Shutdown Calibration: Perform routine calibrations and checks during shutdowns
  • Instrument Replacement: Remove or replace old or broken electric and pneumatic flow, temperature, pressure and level transmitters, DCS boards, valve parts, wiring and junction boxes
  • Instrument Repair: Perform repair work on transmitter wiring and modules, chromatographs, pH analyzers, transducers, control valves and electronic or pneumatic valves
  • DCS Verification: Verify DCS (Honeywell and Foxboro) is ranged correctly and adjust
  • Circuit Calculation: Calculate voltages, amperages and resistance on series and parallel circuits
  • Wiring Inspection: Check wiring to and from instruments for proper connections and physical condition

5. Instrument Technician Accountabilities

  • Signal Simulation: Use a proper simulator to check the output of the instrument, making sure that proper signal conversions are being received or transmitted
  • Device Analysis: Analyze electronic devices for malfunctioning sensing elements and replace the instrument
  • Power Verification: Verify proper power to transmitters
  • Instrument Settings: Verify zero and span settings on instruments
  • Valve Stroking: Stroke valves using proper equipment to verify valve stroke, actuator functions and positioner calibration
  • Air Supply Check: Verify proper air supply pressures to instruments and control valves and check for contamination
  • Loop Commissioning: Commission new control loops by verifying drawings and wiring, calibrating instruments and control valves, verifying input and output ranges in DCS and verifying proper loop operation to the control system
  • Switch Troubleshooting: Adjust and troubleshoot temperature, pressure, flow, level switches and alarm electronics on alarming devices
  • System Testing: Function test, calibrate and repair alarm and shutdown systems using appropriate wiring diagrams and schematics

6. Instrument Technician Functions

  • Assembly Repair: Perform assembly and repair requiring dexterity and use of a variety of hand tools
  • Electrical Assembly: Perform some electrical and soldering assembly
  • Component Fitting: Adjust, align and fit a variety of component parts to close tolerances
  • Blueprint Interpretation: Interpret detailed blueprints, assembly drawings, verbal and written instructions and other documents of similar complexity
  • Part Adjustment: Decide on fittings and adjustments of parts in assembly and repair within established guidelines
  • Operational Analysis: Understand the functional operation of the instruments to determine causes of non-performance or operational failure
  • Product Testing: Test the products within documented guidelines to ensure performance
  • System Understanding: Understand the manufacturing computer operations system

7. Instrument Technician Job Description

  • Fault Diagnosis: Diagnose and rectify faults to ensure maximum equipment availability
  • Telecom Maintenance: Maintain telecoms and satellite TV systems
  • Fiscal Metering: Maintain and carry out fiscal metering duties
  • System Monitoring: Carry out an active monitoring system
  • Scheduled Maintenance: Implement the scheduled maintenance programme, incorporating all instrumentation, electronic, hydraulic and pneumatic plant and equipment
  • Drawing Management: Maintain all instrumentation drawings in as-built condition to reflect any modifications
  • Equipment Commissioning: Install and commission new equipment
  • Team Coordination: Coordinate with other members of the maintenance team to plan daily and long-term maintenance schedules to optimise production
  • Planned Maintenance: Contribute to the planned maintenance system, meeting legal and vendor requirements, ensuring all work is accurately recorded
  • Handover Logging: Maintain comprehensive handover logs

8. Instrument Technician Overview

  • NMR Maintenance: Perform routine maintenance and operation of the NMR spectrometer in the Department of Chemistry
  • Problem Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot and liaise with the Bruker service desk where problems cannot be dealt with in-house
  • Staff Training: Train and supervise staff and students in the safe use of the NMR automation or Open Access
  • Data Access: Ensure NMR users have easy access to their data in a usable format
  • Technique Implementation: Implement new techniques and experiments with a wide range of nuclei
  • Experiment Support: Assist staff and students in the department and externals in the setting up of NMR experiments (both in automation and manual mode) and analysis of results
  • Cryogenic Refilling: Perform cryogenic refilling with the support of other members of the tech team
  • Record Maintenance: Maintain records of instrument issues, repairs and upgrades
  • Data Management: Gather and manipulate complex data and present results to others
  • Safety Compliance: Ensure that the NMR operational practices are compliant with COSHH and health and safety regulations, including the preparation of risk assessments and SOPs
  • Department Collaboration: Work closely with all relevant members of the department’s academic, professional and technical services and other colleagues
  • Meeting Participation: Attend faculty and campus professional services meetings to share good practices and receive or disseminate information
  • Personal Development: Commit to own personal development and training in line with the technician commitment
  • Task Flexibility: Undertake any other reasonable tasks by the line manager

9. Instrument Technician Details and Accountabilities

  • Instrument Maintenance: Repair and perform daily maintenance of the company’s instruments and controls at the field
  • Mid-life Repair: Perform timely and high-quality mid-life repair of instruments and controls
  • Equipment Assembly: Disassemble, repair, assemble, install and test various types of instruments and controls at the field
  • Defect Elimination: Identify and eliminate defects during operation of instruments and during inspection in the repair process
  • Equipment Commissioning: Test and commission the repaired equipment
  • Load Testing: Check the accuracy and perform load testing of the repaired equipment
  • Preventive Maintenance: Perform technical maintenance of instruments and controls, including all types of preventive maintenance
  • Supervisor Coordination: Work under the supervision of lead production supervisor, at other times all works to be coordinated only through the instrumentation supervisor
  • Material Management: Inform the supervisor of the necessary materials, spare parts and tools, and ensure their economical and rational spending
  • Method Development: Develop and introduce advanced methods of instruments maintenance, repair, installation and participate in the modernization of existing facilities
  • Report Compilation: Compile daily reports on the performed scope of work
  • Order Execution: Promptly and precisely execute the orders and instructions of the company’s management and the immediate supervisor associated with job duties
  • Asset Safekeeping: Ensure safekeeping of goods, entrusted equipment and tools
  • Record Keeping: Fill in applications and keep records of maintenance and repairs in the SAP system
  • System Maintenance: Perform routine maintenance of fire and gas detection system
  • ESD Maintenance: Conduct planned maintenance and repair of hydraulic ESD systems on the wells

10. Instrument Technician Tasks

  • Safe Work: Work in a safe, efficient manner consistent with the duties of an industrial maintenance electrician
  • Code Knowledge: Have a working knowledge of the NEC and NFPA 70E codes and requirements for workplace electrical safe practice and procedures
  • Electrical Diagnosis: Perform electrical, electronic and instrument work regarding the diagnosis, installation, testing and repair of electronic and solid-state concepts (including printed circuit boards, computer interface equipment, advanced scope and test equipment, transducers, AC VFD drive systems, DC drives, and synchronous motor controls, programmable controllers, etc.)
  • Equipment Calibration: Maintain, construct, install, repair and calibrate any plant electrical, instrument and metering equipment
  • Preventive Maintenance: Participate in the preventive and predictive maintenance program for any plant electrical, electronic and instrument equipment or control system
  • Circuit Design: Perform original electrical or electrical layouts and circuit designs
  • Drawing Interpretation: Work from information obtained from engineering drawings, electrical diagrams, simple and complex sketches as well as other related documents and verbal field instructions necessary to perform assigned duties
  • System Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot electrical, electronic and instrument systems
  • Record Keeping: Complete daily work records and activity reports
  • Safety Participation: Participate in the safety and good housekeeping programs as established within the plant

11. Instrument Technician Roles

  • Task Completion: Complete tasks and work orders promptly with appropriate documentation according to standard operating procedures, applicable standards, guidelines, practices, and policies
  • Instrument Maintenance: Perform hands-on calibrations, diagnostics, repairs, and maintenance of industrial process control instruments or systems, laboratory instruments and analyzers, and utilities in a cGMP or cGXP environment, while minimizing instrumentation and equipment downtime, ensuring that manufacturing operations and functional support departments are enabled to successfully make, assess, and release drug products 24/7
  • Quality Documentation: Complete various quality systems and CMMS documentation
  • Equipment Programming: Program and configure microprocessor-based equipment (PLCs, DCS, smart devices, critical monitoring, data loggers, etc.)
  • Safe Operation: Safely perform work according to planning and predefined schedules with minimal impact on production while complying with GMP, SOP, CFR, and applicable regulations
  • Team Interaction: Interact with peers and clients in manufacturing, maintenance, analytical labs, and contracted services
  • General Labor: Perform general labor duties and work in a variety of locations and jobs
  • System Maintenance: Maintain cold storage units, incubators, stability chambers, and water systems
  • Vendor Coordination: Coordinate various equipment OEM and vendor activities

12. Instrument Technician Additional Details

  • Contractor Coordination: Conduct training, communications, and escort of equipment contractors, OEMs, and vendors
  • Incident Support: Support incident and deviation investigations
  • Documentation Support: Provide documentation support for the equipment calibration and maintenance program (commissioning, MEF equipment and task enrolment, equipment labeling)
  • CMMS Enrollment: Assist with the equipment enrollment process into the CMMS and Starlims (equipment, parts, procedures, measurement data templates, job plans, data sheet, etc.)
  • SOP Management: Author and revise facility SOPs
  • Safe Operation: Operate tools and shop equipment safely, maintain housekeeping, and execute work safely in the field
  • Equipment Programming: Program and configure microprocessor-based equipment (PLCs, DCS, smart devices, critical monitoring, etc.)
  • Remote Monitoring: Maintain remote monitoring equipment
  • System Startup: Assist with systems start-up and new installations
  • Spare Parts Management: Assist with the identification, purchase, and organization of spare parts
  • On-call Support: Participate in on-call rotations and remain available for after-hours facility and manufacturing support and work outside of established shift hours upon short notice, such as evenings and weekends

13. Instrument Technician Essential Functions

  • Instrument Maintenance: Perform instrument installation, qualification, and maintenance for HPLC systems and other analytical equipment
  • Equipment Repair: Diagnose and repair laboratory equipment including electronic, analytical, and mechanical problems
  • Instrument Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot instruments to diagnose problems, implement solutions, and communicate results to management
  • SOP Development: Author SOPs and develop procedures for testing and qualification of instrumentation
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure instrumentation compliance with GXP and current SOPs
  • Result Recording: Record results in system log books and reports for management approval
  • Issue Resolution: Work with analysts and management to resolve instrument issues
  • Analyst Guidance: Provide guidance to analysts related to proper system setup, operation, and shutdown
  • Staff Training: Train additional technical support staff by management
  • Process Improvement: Work closely with management to improve the efficiency of laboratory maintenance, repairs, and qualification procedures, ensure laboratory instrumentation parts and materials are readily available for use and cost-effective
  • Technical Input: Provide technical input to management regarding the review of analytical and instrumentation system requirements of the laboratory

14. Instrument Technician Role Purpose

  • Equipment Calibration: Calibrate utility, process, and laboratory equipment instrumentation such as temperature, pressure, flow and pH sensors, transmitters, incubators, freezers, balances, indicators, etc.
  • Documentation Accuracy: Ensure that calibration paperwork, work order documentation, and all other documentation is completed promptly and accurately
  • Regulatory Compliance: Complete all work in accordance with CFRs, cGMPs, SOPs, and company policies, procedures, and practices
  • Training Record: Maintain an up-to-date cGMP training record
  • Performance Improvement: Raise the bar of performance by taking ownership of continuous improvement and assisting other staff members in raising the bar on their performance
  • Manager Dialogue: Maintain an ongoing two-way performance dialogue with assigned manager
  • Training Needs: Notify assigned manager of any training needs and advise him or her of any factors impacting ability to perform
  • Work Scheduling: Liaise with the planning and scheduling team to perform and complete all planned work at the scheduled time
  • General Maintenance: Perform all other maintenance and maintenance-related tasks
  • Problem Solving: Identify potential problems and make adjustments to correct or otherwise troubleshoot, formulate, and execute solutions for corrective repair
  • Policy Compliance: Comply with all company policies, procedures, and practices
  • Attendance Reliability: Maintain regular attendance and punctuality

15. Instrument Technician General Responsibilities

  • Testing Calibration: Conduct testing and calibration procedures per company standards in support of HVAC development programs
  • Instrumentation Setup: Set up standard and special purpose laboratory instrumentation to test and evaluate HVAC equipment
  • System Analysis: Analyze, diagnose, and modify systems to support extensive R&D programs
  • Safe Practices: Proactively engage in safe working habits following the applicable standards
  • Project Support: Support technical center initiatives by assisting with projects
  • Team Communication: Maintain effective communication with the project team to ensure performance of duties
  • Workplace Cleanliness: Maintain the cleanliness of work areas and ensure proper handling of tools, equipment, and stock to prevent loss
  • Strategic Support: Support department strategic development initiatives

16. Instrument Technician Key Accountabilities

  • Sterilization Method: Determine the proper method of sterilization according to established guidelines, and sterilize all instruments and related equipment
  • Test Compliance: Ensure that all biologicals, integrators, and Bowie Dick tests are run and read in accordance with established guidelines
  • Case Processing: Receive soiled case carts and process contents in accordance with established standards
  • Waste Disposal: Properly dispose of trash and linen
  • Instrument Sorting: Sort instruments for proper mechanical and or hand washing, meeting established time frame
  • Instrument Inspection: Visually inspect instruments for signs of wear and damage, and replace them.
  • Instrument Decontamination: Decontaminate instruments and equipment, ensuring that the proper technique is used
  • Instrument Assembly: Assemble instruments according to the count sheet

17. Instrument Technician Roles and Details

  • Instrument Tracking: Ensure that missing instruments are marked on the exterior label of the set
  • Case Preparation: Pick and send all scheduled and or unscheduled cases, meeting departmental guidelines
  • Item Documentation: Document missing items on the appropriate documentation (Case Cart Cover Sheet)
  • Principle Integration: Incorporate guiding principles, mission statement, and goals into daily activities
  • Behavior Compliance: Comply with behavioral expectations of the department and organization
  • Professional Interaction: Maintain courteous and effective interactions with colleagues and patients
  • Quality Improvement: Participate in departmental and or interdepartmental quality improvement activities
  • Mandatory Education: Participate in and complete mandatory education

18. Instrument Technician Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Operator Interface: Interface with operators, technicians, and other production personnel to understand
  • Improvement Communication: Communicate improvements that need to be made and have been made
  • Instrument Repair: Install, maintain, and repair instrument devices
  • Diagram Reading: Read technical diagrams and blueprints
  • Instrument Maintenance: Perform general instrument maintenance
  • Issue Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot instrument issues using appropriate testing devices
  • Equipment Replacement: Repair and replace equipment
  • Calibration Setup: Set up the calibration program
  • Program Optimization: Contribute to maintenance program optimization
  • Staff Training: Train others in maintenance-specific tasks
  • Spare Parts Evaluation: Evaluate the needed spare parts of the equipment

19. Instrument Technician Duties and Roles

  • Instrument Calibration: Perform calibration, repair, and integrity checks of process instrument equipment to assure that accuracy, functionality, and reliability are within acceptable limits
  • Technical Assistance: Assist the instrument technology leader in providing technical assistance to production and engineering groups on the application of new and modification of existing process instrumentation
  • Tool Proficiency: Be proficient with standard hand tools and software used in the calibration and maintenance of smart instrumentation
  • Job Review: Review the job package and check if the work can be carried out safely and accordingly
  • Permit Compliance: Obtain the work permit and follow the isolation of energy requirements prior to commencing work
  • Task Execution: Perform work according to the job package and ensure that any follow-up items are completed
  • Safety Leadership: Act as a role model for maintenance contractors by promoting and practicing operational excellence, good safety, and housekeeping
  • Diagnostic Evaluation: Provide diagnostic evaluation for causes of various technical equipment failures, including field instrumentation, programmable logic controllers, and distributed control systems
  • Electrical Troubleshooting: Perform basic electrical functions and troubleshooting

20. Instrument Technician Roles and Responsibilities

  • Maintenance Execution: Carry out preventative and corrective maintenance, including functional testing of SIL-rated safety systems and fault finding to resolve and eliminate equipment problems and malfunctions
  • Work Documentation: Ensure the work completed is fully and accurately documented in the site-wide maintenance management system
  • Process Improvement: Identify and implement improvements that will eliminate potential hazards, reduce production downtime or the cost of manufacture
  • Asset Integration: Support the integration of new assets being commissioned into the routine systems and processes
  • Electrical Isolation: Carry out basic electrical isolations (including fuse removal, testing for dead, disconnection, reconnection and de-isolation) of equipment to allow maintenance work to be completed
  • Apprentice Coaching: Provide support and on-the-job coaching of apprentices
  • Technical Skills: Use appropriate process, technical and engineering skills to achieve manufacturing, quality and service targets within the team
  • System Installation: Remove and install new electrical systems within the facility
  • Continuous Improvement: Actively contribute to all team activities aimed at improving plant performance through the implementation of continuous improvement and problem-solving solving
  • Procedure Enhancement: Suggest improvements to plant, process and operating procedures
  • Issue Response: React to process, engineering, quality and safety issues as they arise and initiate corrective action
  • Risk Assessment: Take an active part in risk assessment or hazard identification for all operational activities and take into account the appropriate COMAH regulations
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