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Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Jobs

Instrumentation, controls and automation jobs across mining, oil & gas, utilities, water and manufacturing in Australia.

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Key Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Capabilities

The skills and strengths employers look for in this field.

Field Instrumentation

Install, calibrate, loop-check and maintain transmitters, flow/level/pressure/temperature instruments, analysers and control valves.

PLC & Control Systems

Program, configure and troubleshoot PLCs and DCS platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider and ABB.

SCADA & HMI

Develop, tune and maintain SCADA and HMI systems (e.g. Citect, Wonderware/AVEVA, Ignition, WinCC) for monitoring and remote operations.

Industrial Networks

Configure and fault-find fieldbus and industrial protocols including Profibus, Modbus, HART, Foundation Fieldbus, EtherNet/IP and OPC.

Hazardous Area (Ex) Work

Install, inspect and maintain equipment in classified hazardous areas to AS/NZS 60079 standards.

Commissioning & Loop Testing

Execute pre-commissioning, loop checks, FAT/SAT and commissioning on greenfield and brownfield projects.

Functional Safety

Design and verify safety instrumented systems (SIS) and SIL-rated loops in line with IEC 61508/61511.

Control Systems Design

Produce P&IDs, loop diagrams, control narratives, cause-and-effect matrices and instrument datasheets.

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Market Overview

Instrumentation, controls and automation is one of the most consistently in-demand segments of the Australian electrical trades and engineering market. Demand is driven by resources and energy projects in Western Australia and Queensland, water and wastewater upgrades, food and beverage and advanced manufacturing, and the ongoing push to automate and remotely monitor assets.

The field spans two broad streams: trades and technician roles (instrument technicians, E&I technicians, instrument fitters) who install, calibrate, fault-find and maintain field devices and control hardware; and engineering roles (controls, control systems and automation engineers, PLC/SCADA programmers) who design, program and commission control systems. Many ICA workers move between construction/commissioning phases and long-term operations and maintenance.

Compensation is strongly influenced by industry and location. Mining, oil & gas and LNG roles — particularly FIFO positions in the Pilbara, remote Queensland and offshore — pay a significant premium over metropolitan manufacturing or municipal water roles. Dual-trade electrical and instrumentation (E&I) qualifications, high-voltage tickets and hazardous-area (Ex) competencies materially increase earning potential and employability.

Shutdowns, brownfield upgrades and new renewable and battery projects continue to generate both permanent and contract/day-rate opportunities. Contract rates for experienced E&I technicians and commissioning engineers are often well above permanent equivalents, reflecting the intermittent, project-driven nature of the work.

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Salary Guide

Indicative ranges — actual pay varies by location, experience and employer.

RoleSalary (permanent, AUD/yr)Contract / day rate (AUD)Experience
Instrumentation Technician$90,000 – $125,000$500 – $750/day2–6 yrs post-trade
E&I Technician (dual trade)$100,000 – $150,000$600 – $850/day3–8 yrs
Instrument Fitter$85,000 – $115,000$450 – $700/dayTrade + experience
Automation Technician$95,000 – $130,000$550 – $800/day3–7 yrs
PLC/SCADA Programmer$110,000 – $150,000$700 – $1,000/day4–8 yrs
Controls / Control Systems Engineer$120,000 – $170,000$800 – $1,200/day5–10 yrs
Automation Engineer$115,000 – $165,000$750 – $1,100/day5–10 yrs
Lead / Principal Controls Engineer$160,000 – $220,000+$1,100 – $1,500+/day10+ yrs

Indicative base ranges for Australia (excluding super, site allowances and FIFO uplifts). Mining, oil & gas and LNG roles — especially remote/FIFO — sit at the upper end or above. Metro manufacturing, water and municipal roles tend toward the lower end. Figures vary by state, industry and project phase.

See the full Instrumentation, Controls & Automation salary breakdown by level and location →

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Job Roles

Common job titles and roles for Instrumentation, Controls & Automation professionals.

Instrumentation TechnicianInstrument TechnicianInstrument FitterInstrumentation & Control TechnicianE&I TechnicianElectrical & Instrumentation TechnicianInstrumentation ElectricianAutomation TechnicianPLC ProgrammerSCADA EngineerControls EngineerControl Systems EngineerAutomation EngineerCommissioning Engineer (ICA)Lead Instrumentation EngineerFunctional Safety Engineer

Professional Bodies & Qualifications

UEE31220

Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control

Core trade qualification for instrumentation technicians in Australia (supersedes UEE30811).

Certificate III in Electrical and Instrumentation

Dual electrical/instrumentation trade pathway valued for E&I technician roles.

Electrical Licence (state-based)

Issued by state regulators (e.g. EnergySafe Victoria, ESO Queensland, EnergySafety WA, NSW Fair Trading) — required for electrical work.

UEE42620

Hazardous Area (Ex) Competencies

Diploma/units for working on electrical equipment in hazardous areas per AS/NZS 60079.

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical / Mechatronics / Control)

Common entry qualification for controls, control systems and automation engineers.

CPEng / NER

Chartered Engineer / NER (Engineers Australia)

Professional recognition via Engineers Australia (Chartered status, National Engineering Register) for engineering roles.

Construction Induction (White Card)

General construction induction card required for site access on most industrial and construction sites.

Functional Safety Certification (TÜV)

TÜV FS Engineer certification (IEC 61508/61511) valued for safety instrumented systems work.

Career Path & Progression

1

Apprentice / Trainee

Complete a Certificate III apprenticeship, learning instrument installation, calibration and basic control systems under supervision.

2

Instrument / E&I Technician

Work independently on calibration, fault-finding, maintenance and loop checks across plant and field assets.

3

Senior Technician / PLC Programmer

Take on complex troubleshooting, PLC/SCADA configuration, commissioning and mentoring of junior staff.

4

Controls / Automation Engineer

Design and program control systems, lead commissioning, and manage integration and functional safety.

5

Lead / Principal Engineer

Own control systems architecture, technical governance, standards and project delivery across multiple sites.

Latest Instrumentation, Controls & Automation jobs

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Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between an instrument technician and an E&I technician?
An instrument technician focuses on field instrumentation and control hardware, while an E&I (electrical and instrumentation) technician holds dual electrical and instrumentation qualifications and can also perform licensed electrical work. E&I roles typically pay more and are in strong demand in mining, oil & gas and heavy industry.
Do I need an electrical licence for instrumentation work in Australia?
It depends on the scope. Pure instrumentation and calibration work may not require an electrical licence, but any electrical wiring or work on electrical installations does. Many employers prefer dual-trade E&I technicians who hold a state-issued electrical licence, as it broadens the work they can legally perform.
Which qualifications are most valued in ICA roles?
A Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control (or dual E&I) is the trade baseline. Hazardous area (Ex) competencies, high-voltage tickets, and vendor PLC/SCADA training (Allen-Bradley, Siemens) significantly boost employability. Engineering roles typically require a Bachelor of Engineering, with Chartered/NER status valued for senior positions.
Is FIFO common in this field, and does it pay more?
Yes. Fly-in fly-out roles in the Pilbara, remote Queensland and offshore are common for mining, oil & gas and LNG work, and they generally pay a premium over metropolitan roles due to site allowances, rosters and remoteness. Shutdown and commissioning contracts can command especially high day rates.
Permanent or contract — which is better in ICA?
Both are common. Permanent roles offer stability, leave and superannuation. Contract and day-rate work — particularly for experienced E&I technicians, PLC programmers and commissioning engineers — often pays more on a pro-rata basis but is project-driven and intermittent. Many professionals mix the two across their careers.
How do I move from technician to controls engineer?
Many technicians transition by gaining PLC/SCADA programming experience, taking on commissioning and design work, and completing further study — often an engineering degree or diploma. Demonstrated systems-integration experience, plus functional safety and vendor certifications, strengthen the path to engineering roles.
Which industries hire the most ICA professionals in Australia?
Mining and resources, oil & gas and LNG, water and wastewater utilities, power generation (including renewables and batteries), and food, beverage and advanced manufacturing are the biggest employers. Systems integrators and EPC contractors also hire heavily during project and commissioning phases.

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