About National Instruments — Built by Engineers, for Engineers
Founded in 2003 by a team of measurement specialists who believed that buying test equipment should be as precise and reliable as the instruments themselves.
Founded in 2003 by a team of measurement specialists who believed that buying test equipment should be as precise and reliable as the instruments themselves.
National Instruments began when a small group of RF and fiber optic engineers grew frustrated with the test equipment procurement process. Too often, engineers ended up with instruments that didn't match their actual needs — either over-specified and over-budget, or lacking critical features discovered too late.
"We started NI because we believed that choosing the right instrument shouldn't require guesswork. Every engineer deserves honest, expert guidance — not a sales pitch."
Today, with 860 employees across 55 countries, that founding principle drives everything we do. From our ISO 17025 calibration lab in Austin to our field support teams worldwide, we combine deep measurement expertise with genuine customer care.
Our team includes former application engineers from leading instrument manufacturers, most joining between 2008 and 2018, each with hands-on measurement experience spanning fiber characterization, RF site validation, and production-line QC. When you call National Instruments, you speak with someone who has actually used the instruments in the field.
We recommend the right instrument for your needs, even if it's not the most expensive option. Our engineers don't earn commission.
We guarantee technical support response within 4 hours because measurement downtime costs your business real money.
Our team stays current with evolving standards (5G NR, 400G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7) so our advice reflects the latest measurement challenges.
Since 2015, our NI Engineering Scholars program has provided test equipment and training to over 40 university electronics labs across North America, Europe, and Asia.
We partner with engineering departments to ensure students gain hands-on experience with professional-grade instruments before they enter the workforce. Each partner university receives loaner instrument packages, curriculum support, and guest lectures from our application engineers.
Whether you're selecting your first OTDR or upgrading an entire test fleet, we're here to help.
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