Lead Instrument Engineer

Cornerstone Surveying & Mapping; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Keystone Engineering Inc. is seeking a Lead Instrument Engineer for our Nassau Bay Area Office Team in Houston, TX.

The role focuses on leading instrumentation design, selecting suitable control devices, and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance across petrochemical and manufacturing projects. The candidate will oversee a team of engineers and drafters, review technical documents, coordinate with EPC contractors, and maintain instrument databases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation, Electronics, or Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in the petrochemical, refinery, or process manufacturing industries.
• Experience with DCS, PLCs, ESD systems, field instrumentation, and communication protocols (e.g., HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Modbus).
• Ability to make field trips and lead in all project communications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, organized, and solution advocate.
• Attention to detail.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional oversight to junior engineers & designers and perform technical review of designs and reports.
• Manage a team of engineers and drafters for multiple projects including resource planning, schedule and budget and leading client meetings.
• Communicate effectively with project team members and manager.
• Develop strong relationships with clients and support the incoming requests in a timely manner.
• Develop and specify instrumentation systems for complex process control applications in petrochemical and manufacturing environments.
• Select instruments and control devices suitable for harsh environments (e.g., hazardous areas, corrosive chemicals, high-temperature operations).
• Review P&IDs, instrument datasheets, control panel designs, cable schedules, control narratives, loop diagrams, wiring diagrams, and IO lists.
• Ensure instrumentation systems comply with industry codes and standards (API, ISA, IECEx, ATEX, NEC, etc.).
• Support compliance with process safety standards (e.g., SIL ratings, HAZOP recommendations, alarm management).
• Participate in safety audits and provide technical expertise on instrument-related safety systems.
• Interface with EPC contractors, vendors, and internal teams on instrumentation packages and control system integration.
• Maintain and update instrument databases, calibration records, and system documentation.
• Provide technical reports, inspection summaries, and recommendations for improvements.
• In-depth understanding of process instrumentation and control strategies.
• Experience with hazardous area classification and intrinsically safe systems.
• Familiar with tools like SPI (SmartPlant Instrumentation), AutoCAD, or equivalent.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Attention to detail

Team coordination

Education

ABET-accredited Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation/Electrical/Electronics Engineering

Tools

SPI (SmartPlant Instrumentation)

AutoCAD

Job description

Keystone Engineering Inc. opened for business in 1988 and for decades, has been a reliable provider of qualified engineering resources and technically innovative solutions. Keystone was founded to be an enduring company, and to provide an environment for our employees and clients to innovate, thrive, and be successful.

Keystone’s family of companies include: Milestone Project Services, SIS SILverstone, VeraPro, and Salmon & Associates

Our varied and extensive experience indicates that successful projects come down to personnel. We incorporate their individual skills in a process that’s geared toward excellence. The intentional pairing of people and process is the reason why clients know that they can trust their projects in the hands of Keystone. Services Offered: 3D Laser Scanning, Controls & Automation, Construction Management, Design & Drafting, Engineering: Civil/Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, Process, Functional Safety, Information Technology, Instrumentation, On-Site Services, Operations & Commissioning Support, Procurement, Project Management.

Keystone Engineering is currently seeking a Lead Instrument Engineer for our Nassau Bay Area Office Team.

Position Type: Full-time

Location: Nassau Bay, TX

Work Environment/Physical Demands: Office/Sedentary, work includes time in industrial operating units.

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel for site inspections, vendor FATs, or commissioning support.

Essential Functions

• Provide professional oversight to junior engineers & designers and perform technical review of designs and reports
• Manage a team of engineers and drafters for multiple projects including resource planning, schedule and budget and leading client meetings
• Communicate effectively with project team members and manager
• Develop strong relationships with clients and support the incoming requests in a timely manner
• Develop and specify instrumentation systems for complex process control applications in petrochemical and manufacturing environments.
• Select instruments and control devices suitable for harsh environments (e.g., hazardous areas, corrosive chemicals, high-temperature operations).
• Review P&IDs, instrument datasheets, control panel designs, cable schedules, control narratives, loop diagrams, wiring diagrams, and IO lists.
• Ensure instrumentation systems comply with industry codes and standards (API, ISA, IECEx, ATEX, NEC, etc.).
• Support compliance with process safety standards (e.g., SIL ratings, HAZOP recommendations, alarm management).
• Participate in safety audits and provide technical expertise on instrument-related safety systems.
• Interface with EPC contractors, vendors, and internal teams on instrumentation packages and control system integration.
• Maintain and update instrument databases, calibration records, and system documentation.
• Provide technical reports, inspection summaries, and recommendations for improvements.
• In-depth understanding of process instrumentation and control strategies.
• Experience with hazardous area classification and intrinsically safe systems.
• Familiar with tools like SPI (SmartPlant Instrumentation), AutoCAD, or equivalent.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation, Electronics, or Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in the petrochemical, refinery, or process manufacturing industries.
• Experience with DCS, PLCs, ESD systems, field instrumentation, and communication protocols (e.g., HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Modbus).
• Ability to make field trips and lead in all project communications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, organized, and solution advocate.
• Attention to detail.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer.

Experienced Preferred

• PE Licensure.
• OSHA or local safety certification for refinery/manufacturing environments.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.