Measurement and control engineer Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As a measurement and control engineer, you would design and specify the instruments and systems that manage production processes in a range of industries. You could also be in charge of the technicians that will install and maintain the instruments and systems. Examples of the industries include:

• manufacturing
• light and heavy engineering
• petrochemicals and biochemicals
• power generation
• automatic sorting operations
• transport operations.

Depending on your exact role, your duties could include:

• assessing the development and installation of new equipment
• drawing up technical plans with computer-assisted engineering and design software
• analysing data and using computer modelling to improve the efficiency of production processes
• estimating the costs and timescales of installing new equipment
• coordinating the work of technicians and craftspeople on projects
• planning and managing inspection and maintenance schedules
• attending meetings, writing reports and giving presentations to managers and clients.

Control instruments and systems let you see exactly what is happening in a specific area of the manufacturing or operations process. If something is going wrong, you can make adjustments straight away. The sensors and instruments are also designed to collect data, used in production planning and quality control.

Hours

You would usually work 37 to 40 hours per week. This is often on a shift or rota system. You may be required to work extra hours to meet deadlines, or to deal with breakdowns and faults.

Your time would be split between the office and the production areas of the plant or factory.

Income

• Starting salaries are around £23,000 a year.
• Experienced engineers can earn between £37,000 and £45,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To work in this area you would normally need a BTEC HNC or HND, foundation degree or degree in a branch of engineering, such as:

• systems and control
• production
• computing
• electrical or electronics
• mechanical.

Physics or applied physics may also be acceptable to employers.

See the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) website for details of UK colleges and universities offering these courses.

• Institution of Engineering and Technology

You may also be able to get into this career by starting off as a measurement and control technician apprentice with a manufacturer or engineering company, and then continuing after your Apprenticeship on to higher Education qualifications.

The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information, visit the Apprenticeships website.

• Apprenticeships
  

To get on to an Apprenticeship, you are likely to need four or five GCSEs (A-C), including maths, English and a science subject.

For more information about measurement and control engineering as a career, see the IET and SEMTA websites.

For more general information about engineering as a career, see the Tomorrow’s Engineers website.

• Tomorrow's Engineers

Training and development

Once you start working, you normally receive supervised on-the-job training specific to the industry you work in. With a degree, you could get a place on a company's graduate apprenticeship scheme.

You could help your career prospects further by working towards incorporated or chartered engineer status. To do this, you should register with your professional industry body and apply to the Engineering Council. See the Engineering Council website for more details.

• Engineering Council

As an incorporated engineer, you would specialise in the day-to-day management of engineering operations. At chartered level, you would have a more strategic role, planning, researching and developing new ideas, and streamlining management methods.

Skills and knowledge

• excellent maths, science, technical and IT skills
• the ability to analyse complicated problems
• the ability to explain design ideas clearly to non-technical staff
• project management skills
• the ability to prioritise your workload
• the confidence to make decisions
• budget handling skills
• excellent communication skills
• teamworking skills.

More information

SEMTA (Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK)
14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0845 643 9001
www.semta.org.uk

Women into Science, Engineering and Construction
Athlone Wing
Old Building
Great Horton Road
Bradford
BD7 1AY
Tel: 01274 436485
www.theukrc.org/wise

Institution of Engineering and Technology
Michael Faraday House
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2AY
Tel: 01438 313 311
www.theiet.org

Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland)
Interpoint
20-24 York Street
Belfast
BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878
www.etcni.org.uk

Tomorrow's Engineers
EngineeringUK
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EX
Email: careers@engineeringuk.com
Tel: 020 3206 0400
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk

Institute of Measurement and Control
87 Gower Street
London
WC1E 6AF
Tel: 020 7387 4949
www.instmc.org.uk

Opportunities

You could find opportunities across the processing, manufacturing and engineering industries, and with manufacturers of measurement and control instruments.

With experience, you could specialise in a specific area, such as design, testing, manufacture or technical sales and marketing. Eventually, you could move into project management, research and development, or consultancy.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)

• JustEngineers.net
• The Engineer Online
• Totally Engineering
• Flipside Magazine
• Directgov (Jobseekers page)