Aspirants often face the real test while selecting the branch of engineering. They sometimes tend to overlook certain streams which have good potential by going with the current trends and glamour. Instrumentation Engineering is one such avenue.

Instrumentation is defined as the science and art of measurement and control of process variables within a manufacturing or production area. The realms of Instrumentation Engineering have further opened up over the years.

It deals with Measurement, Control and Automation of processes and is a specialized branch of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Instrumentation Engineering opens the door to numerous possibilities. Candidates have a variety of options after graduation. They can pursue higher studies in the same field or can be recruited by public and private sector firms like National Instruments, Suzlon, Robert Bosch and much more.

What is the course outlook?

B Tech in Instrumentation Engineering is considered one of the most prestigious courses in the field of engineering. This branch deals with control and measurement of machines and technical instruments, designing of electronics chips and Integrated Circuits (IC). It focuses on the principle and operation of measuring instruments that are required for designing and configuring automatic systems.

The course is of four years duration. Students must qualify the state or national level entrance examination to become eligible for this program. It is offered in many good colleges such as IITs, NITs, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, etc.

Aspirants who pursue this program are trained in the fields of Electronic Controls and Communication Engineering, Semiconductor Devices and Electrical Machines. They learn the fundamentals of digital control, virtual instrumentation, data communication and networks, digital signal processing and IC fabrication technology.

How to build a career after graduation?

Students who have graduated in this field can work as Instrumentation Engineers for improving the productivity, reliability, safety, and stability of the automated systems.

They can also seek higher education by pursuing Master in Engineering or Master in Technology. They can also apply for various short term courses offered by different institutes.

Post-B.Sc. Diploma in Instrumentation is one of the most popular courses. Certificate courses such as Advanced Diploma in Real Time Operating Systems, Verilog, and VHDL also counts as a good option.

This has increased the demand for Instrumentation graduates. 

What are the Career Prospects?

India is one of the most preferred countries for Engineering and Manufacturing industry due to the low-cost factor.

Aspirants are presented with several job opportunities in both public and private sectors. Graduates can apply for jobs in Cement and Fertilizer plants, Thermal Power Stations and Steel Plants, Larsen & Turbo, ESSAR, etc.  They can also look out for the option of consultancy- based work in certain Instrumentation companies or can work as a faculty in any technical institution.

They can join Civil Services, Defence services, Indian Railways, Telecommunication departments and Government Hardware Manufacturing Units. Top public sector firms recruiting Instrumentation Engineering graduates are BSNL, ISRO, BEL, NALCO, BHEL, and ONGC. Candidates can even find jobs in research and development fields.

Another area which is fast catching-up is Bio- Medical which has a huge requirement for Instrumentation professionals.

The development in Avionics, Aeronautical and Space Science sectors are some of the factors responsible for the wide scope for Instrumentation Engineers.

Software companies are one of the largest recruiters of students in this field. They hire individuals for different purposes like the operation of electronic equipment, maintenance, and installation.

What is the Average Remuneration?

Freshers in Instrumentation Engineering can earn a starting salary between INR 10,000 to INR 20,000 per month. The average package is around INR 3 to 5 lakhs per annum as per the track record of many colleges. The pay scale in this industry is determined based on various factors like work experience, qualification, and performance.

Senior Instrumentation experts can earn up to INR 80,000 a month with minimum 5 years of work experience. Pay scale is comparatively higher in foreign countries than that in India. Instrumentation jobs are in demand in Gulf countries due to the presence of high concentration of Oil and Natural Gas Corporations.

Conclusion:   

Instrumentation Engineering is an excellent choice. This field has a demand all over the globe. A large number of companies recruit students of this field. Candidates are recruited in all sectors like public and private. Also, this field opens up many job opportunity in foreign countries. The Bio- Medical field is also a rising opportunity for all such graduates. The scope of technology is ever increasing ensuring a huge demand for a career in Instrumentation Engineering.