Calibration engineers monitor, repair, and adjust mechanical or electronic systems in various industries, including automotive, electronics, and appliances. They ensure products are within specified ranges to avoid poor functionality and unhappy customers. They test fuel economy and emissions in vehicles, adjust electronics for accuracy, and ensure appliances operate within calibrated parameters. Some have two-year college degrees, while others require a four-year degree in engineering or mathematics.
A calibration engineer monitors, repairs, and adjusts mechanical or electronic systems within a specified range of values. Many industries use the talents of this type of engineer, including the automotive, electronics, and appliance industries. Incorrectly calibrated products result in poor device functionality and unhappy customers.
Automotive calibration engineers work primarily with the fuel economy and emissions portions of the vehicle. Many US states are extremely strict about vehicle emissions that affect neighboring neighborhoods. As a result, the calibration engineer must ensure that each vehicle manufactured produces emissions within acceptable state values. Any deviation from the specified values must be noted by the engineer as the vehicle is pulled from the test area to be repaired.
Fuel economy is a major selling point for vehicle manufacturers. The calibration engineer must test the vehicle to match the actual fuel consumption with the advertised value. Any vehicles out of calibration must be adjusted or repaired before being released to the public.
Electronics such as measuring devices also require calibration. Many consumers use laser meters to measure distances, such as for home improvement. The displayed value must be within a certain range as specified by the manufacturer. The calibration engineer must test and adjust the product to a specified accuracy range.
In addition to electronic calibration, calibration engineers can perform drop tests on products to verify that the device can withstand reasonable impact while maintaining accuracy. Real-life use of an electronic material could include accidental drops onto concrete or grass by the consumer. The engineer can determine whether the device should be returned to the designers if it cannot withstand minor drops.
Appliances such as refrigerators must operate within calibrated parameters to save energy and cool food to the specified temperature. For example, the calibration engineer will test each fridge temperature switch to ensure it is working properly and cools down to the desired value. Incorrectly adjusted switches can result in freezing temperatures in the refrigerator section, causing high electrical costs with a constantly running appliance. On the other hand, a switch that doesn’t activate the cooling mechanism or infrequently will result in spoiled food from a hot interior.
Some engineers in this field have two-year college degrees in addition to practical experience. Many industries with complex calibration needs may require these engineers to have a four-year college degree. The degree obtained typically reflects the intended career sector, such as engineering or even mathematics.
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