Measurement and control technician Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

Measurement and control technicians work with instruments that monitor production processes and equipment, in industries such as manufacturing, and engineering. For example, they might use control panels which check that a production line is running smoothly, or equipment that makes sure medical instruments are working correctly. Examples of the industries include:

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

As a technician, your main duties would include:

• monitoring systems and equipment using programmable logic controls (PLCs) and distributed control systems (DCSs)
• designing, testing, calibrating and operating new control systems
• gathering and analysing feedback data from devices for use in quality control
• installing, maintaining and repairing measuring instruments.

You would normally work in a team under the direction of an engineer, but you may have responsibility for supervising craftspeople and machine operators.

Hours

You would usually work between 37 and 40 hours a week on a shift system. You may also have on-call duties for any out-of-hours problems.

You could work indoors on a factory production line, in a controlled environment like an electronics manufacturing plant, or a hospital or research facility. You may do some work outdoors, for example if working on road or rail signalling systems.

Income

• Starting salaries can be between £17,000 and £20,000 a year.
• Experienced technicians can earn between £22,000 and £35,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You may be able to get into this career through an Apprenticeship scheme in engineering. To get on to a scheme, you would need four or five GCSEs (grades A-C), including maths, English, science and/or engineering, or equivalent 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. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit the Apprenticeships website.

• Apprenticeships

You could also take a college course, such as a BTEC qualification, to learn some of the skills needed for this job. Relevant courses include:

• BTEC Certificate and Diploma in Engineering or Manufacturing
• BTEC Certificate/Diploma in Electrical, Electronic or Mechanical Engineering
• BTEC Certificate/Diploma in Operations and Maintenance Engineering
• City and Guilds Certificate and Diploma in Engineering
• EAL Certificate and Diploma in Engineering.

Contact your local college for more details.

For more information about engineering as a career, check the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and SEMTA websites.

• The Institution of Engineering and Technology
• SEMTA

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

• Tomorrow's Engineers

Training and development

Once you are employed, you may be encouraged to take a work-based NVQ award relevant to your job. Options include:

• NVQ Performing Engineering Operations at levels 1 and 2
• NVQ Engineering Maintenance and Installation Level 2, and Maintenance Level 3
• NVQ Maintaining Plant and Systems, Installation and Commissioning, Marine Engineering Operations or Engineering Technical Support Level 3
• NVQ Process Engineering Maintenance (Instrument and Control levels 2 and 3).

You could study part-time for a BTEC HNC/HND in Operations Engineering – Instrument and Control. Other engineering subjects at this level also contain measurement and control options, for instance, electrical or electronic engineering. Check with local colleges for more details.

With a level 3 award, you could improve your career prospects by registering with the Engineering Council to gain EngTech status. To find out more, see the Engineering Council website.

• Engineering Council

Skills and knowledge

• an interest in electronics and microelectronics
• an understanding of computer engineering applications
• a flair for engineering
• the ability to work methodically and precisely
• strong problem-solving skills
• good communications skills
• the ability to work alone or as part of a team.

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
UK Resource Centre
Athlone Wing
Old Building
Great Horton Road
Bradford
BD7 1AY
Tel: 01274 436485
www.theukrc.org/wise

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
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 work in areas such as control systems installation, design and manufacture of components, computerised controls, equipment testing, production control and estimating.

With experience, you could move into a supervisory position. With further training, you could move into higher management or project engineer roles.

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

• Just Engineers
• The Engineer Online
• Totally Engineering
• Flipside Magazine
• Directgov (Jobseekers page)