Calibration technicians maintain and repair machinery and equipment in manufacturing environments, requiring knowledge of test and calibration tools, ISO standards, and electrical circuits. Communication skills are also important, and jobs may require a high school diploma or associate’s degree.
A calibration technician is responsible for checking, repairing, and maintaining machinery and equipment, usually in a production or manufacturing environment. She is not called an engineer, but the education and experience required to excel as a calibration technician is significant. Regardless of the industry, each time mechanical processes or electronic instruments are upgraded or replaced, she is required to update her knowledge and skills to properly maintain and calibrate them. Some calibration technicians work exclusively in-house and others primarily perform work at the customer’s premises.
The main tasks of a calibration technician require mastery of test and calibration tools such as oscilloscopes, calipers, pressure gauges and temperature controllers. Knowledge of international ISO standards is required, along with a good understanding of electricity and electrical circuits. The ability to set up test equipment and troubleshoot components is required, and technicians are also expected to prepare service reports and accurately document replacement and repair of parts.
In addition to technical knowledge, communication skills are important attributes for a calibration technician. In-house technicians are required to communicate effectively with department managers and plant or manufacturing personnel to identify and resolve equipment and machine problems. Technicians who travel to customer facilities to perform calibration and repairs need to effectively correspond with customers to analyze situations and advise on preventative maintenance options. Both types of technicians benefit from good relationships with vendors.
Calibration technicians can find work in a variety of environments. Large factories or manufacturing facilities may employ one or more full-time calibration technicians. Parts suppliers often hire calibration technicians to market and sell their products based on the technicians’ knowledge of the parts, applications, and test procedures. Third-party maintenance companies that contract their services with a variety of large and small manufacturing companies employ general calibration technicians in addition to maintenance and repair specialists for specific product lines.
Some calibration technician jobs only require a high school diploma or equivalent and provide on-the-job training. Other positions require an associate’s degree in instrumentation or electronics technology or two years of solid electrical or mechanical calibration and repair experience. Applicable degrees are offered by some trade schools, technical training institutes or junior colleges. Additional certifications in specific areas of calibration technology are offered by some schools. Industry organizations sometimes offer seminars and courses to keep calibration technicians informed about new technologies and equipment that may be needed to maintain or repair.
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