Field Instrumentation Technician – Blenders, Mixers

The Senior Field Instrumentation Technician will lead instrumentation activities related to process blending and mixing equipment. Responsibilities include advanced troubleshooting, calibration strategy planning, loop validation, technical mentoring, and compliance assurance. The technician ensures optimal equipment performance and supports production uptime in regulated or high-throughput environments like pharmaceuticals, food processing, or specialty chemicals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the installation, calibration, and maintenance of all field instruments on mixers, blenders, reactors, and tank systems.

• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) on recurrent or critical instrumentation failures affecting blending operations.

• Interface with control and automation engineers to resolve signal integrity, loop faults, or integration issues with PLC/DCS systems.

• Mentor junior technicians and guide them on SOP adherence, troubleshooting techniques, and calibration procedures.

• Develop and review instrumentation documentation, including loop diagrams, P&IDs, calibration logs, and PM checklists.

• Coordinate with QA and validation teams during equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ).

• Support instrument lifecycle management, including obsolescence planning and upgrade implementation.

• Ensure adherence to safety procedures (LOTO, PPE, confined space) and compliance standards (GMP, ISO, 21 CFR Part 11).

Key Focus Areas:

1. Advanced Instrumentation Handling

   • Expertise in:

     • Load cells, torque sensors, motor speed feedback for high-shear mixers and blenders

     • Vibration monitoring, temperature control loops, and pressure/level transmitters

2. Troubleshooting & Diagnostics

   • Lead complex issue resolution involving:

     • Signal instability, grounding loops, false readings, and sensor drift

     • PLC/DCS integration and control loop tuning in blending applications

3. Calibration Leadership

   • Perform and review:

     • Critical instrument calibrations using high-accuracy calibrators

     • Audit-ready documentation and interval rationalization for critical sensors

4. Documentation & Compliance

   • Own:

     • Instrument history records, change control documentation, deviation/CAPA inputs

     • Calibration traceability in line with GMP, GEP, and ISO 17025 practices

5. Mentoring & Team Leadership

   • Train and guide junior techs on best practices, safety, and SOP compliance

   • Assist in onboarding and competency development of new instrumentation staff

Qualifications:

• Education:

  • Diploma / B.E. / B.Tech in Instrumentation, Electronics, Electrical, or Mechatronics

• Experience:

  • Minimum 7–10 years in field instrumentation roles with at least 3 years on mixing/blending systems

• Technical Proficiency:

  • Skilled with:

    • Beamex/Fluke calibrators, HART communicators, vibration analyzers

    • Integration with control systems (Siemens, Allen Bradley, DeltaV, etc.)

    • Reading and updating engineering documents (P&IDs, loop diagrams, wiring schedules)

• Soft Skills:

  • Leadership, attention to detail, documentation discipline, and cross-functional coordination

  • Confident in supporting audits and technical reviews