Instrumentation Engineer

Instrumentation engineering at a lead level is not just about technical depth. It is about taking ownership of complex deliverables, guiding a team through the full scope of a project, and making sure everything from the earliest design decisions through to FAT reflects the standard the project demands. If that is the level you operate at, this role deserves your attention.

Company Information

Our client is a well established engineering organisation with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, multidisciplinary solutions across complex infrastructure and industrial projects. Their teams work across the full project lifecycle from conceptual design through to detailed engineering and commissioning, supporting clients with both technical depth and practical delivery capability. Engineering excellence, collaborative culture, and a commitment to quality define how they work and what they deliver.

Vacancy Information

As Lead Instrumentation Engineer, you will take full charge of instrumentation engineering activities across complex projects from concept through to detailed design. You will lead a team of instrumentation engineers and designers, ensuring that all deliverables meet the highest technical standards and project objectives throughout every phase.

Your work will have a strong focus on greenfield Automation and Telecommunication detailed engineering. You will oversee the development and delivery of comprehensive instrumentation documentation, guide specification preparation and technical bid evaluations, and lead Factory Acceptance Testing for critical systems. This is a role with genuine technical ownership and direct leadership responsibility from day one.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading a team of instrumentation engineers and designers through complex engineering projects from concept through to detailed design and delivery.
• Taking full responsibility for the development and quality of all instrumentation deliverables including cable schedules, block diagrams, layout drawings, termination diagrams, hook-up drawings, mounting typicals, and loop diagrams.
• Overseeing greenfield Automation and Telecommunication detailed engineering across all project phases.
• Preparing and evaluating specifications and Technical Bid Evaluations for instrumentation and automation systems.
• Leading Factory Acceptance Testing for critical systems including SCADA and DCS platforms, telecommunication systems covering CCTV, PAGA, LAN, WiFi, and radio, and Fire and Gas detection systems.
• Ensuring all deliverables comply with client specifications, applicable industry standards, and project quality requirements.
• Providing technical guidance and mentorship to instrumentation engineers and designers within the project team.
• Collaborating closely with electrical, process, and other engineering disciplines to ensure full integration of instrumentation and automation systems within the broader project design.
• Serving as the primary technical point of contact for instrumentation and automation matters toward clients, suppliers, and internal project stakeholders.

What you need:

• Bachelor or Master degree in Instrumentation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a comparable technical discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams of instrumentation engineers and designers through complex detailed engineering projects.
• Deep hands-on expertise in greenfield Automation and Telecommunication detailed engineering with a strong understanding of what that scope requires in practice.
• Strong knowledge of HV substation design and its interface with instrumentation and automation systems.
• Proven capability in preparing specifications and Technical Bid Evaluations and leading FAT processes for SCADA and DCS systems, telecommunication systems including CCTV, PAGA, LAN, WiFi, and radio, and Fire and Gas detection systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of instrumentation deliverables including cable lists, block and layout diagrams, termination diagrams, hook-up drawings, mounting typicals, and loop diagrams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple project workstreams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the confidence to engage at a senior level across project and client teams.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

If you do not meet every requirement but have a strong instrumentation engineering background with relevant leadership experience, we still encourage you to apply. The right combination of technical experience, motivation, and willingness to grow can make you a strong candidate.

Relocation

This position is based in the Netherlands and will require relocation. We understand that making an international move is a significant decision and we are here to make that process as straightforward as possible.

As part of your contract, FairPlay Engineering provides a Premium Relocation Package. This includes visa sponsorship, guidance before your move, and dedicated support from a relocation consultant throughout the process. You can find more information on the Relocating with us page on our website.

Apply

We appreciate every application we receive. Because this is a specialised role, we will contact candidates whose experience closely matches the requirements.

If you have not heard from us within two weeks, your application has unfortunately not been selected for the next step.

FairPlay Engineering specialises in recruiting engineers for roles in the Netherlands. If this vacancy is not the right match for you, keep an eye on our vacancies page for future opportunities.