Jobs, Careers and Occupations

Chemical Engineers

Chemical Engineer Nature of Work

Chemical engineers research, design and coordinate the construction and operation of manufacturing facilities and processes, which convert raw materials into everyday products such as gas/petrol, pharmaceuticals and plastics.

Chemical engineers are employed in a wide range of manufacturing and processing industries, consulting firms, government, research and educational institutions. Chemical engineers apply principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics mechanical and electrical engineering.

With experience and sometimes further training, chemical engineers may advance to become business, technical, financial or works managers, personnel directors or managing directors of large companies.

Chemical Engineer Work Conditions

Chemical engineers usually work standard hours, but may be called to meet demanding deadlines. Those with responsibilities for continuous process plants may be on call 24 hours a day. Some may work shifts during the commissioning of new plants. Workplaces range from laboratories and processing plants to engineering design offices and research institutions.

Chemical Engineer Personal Requirements

• Able to accept responsibility
• Able to identify, analyze and solve problems
• Able to work independently
• Enjoy technical and engineering work
• Good at computing and design
• Good communication skills
• Practical and creative
• Willing to adhere to safety requirements

Chemical Engineer Employment Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or in a related engineering discipline
• Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination
• Licensing usually is required to approve engineering drawings and reports, and to practice as a Professional Engineer
• Supervisory and senior positions require experience

Chemical Engineer Duties and Tasks

Chemical engineer may perform some or all of the following duties and tasks:

• Conduct economic and technical feasibility studies including cost efficiency, environmental friendliness, maximum output and product quality in areas related to chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, food or other processing industries
• Conduct research into the development or improvement of chemical engineering processes, reactions and materials
• Design and test chemical processing and associated plants and equipment
• Direct and coordinate the work of maintenance and construction trades’ people or process plant operators, technicians, technologists and other engineers
• Identify faults in the day-to-day operation of process plants and take corrective action
• Make plans and specifications for full-scale production plants, taking into account available technology, the cost and size of equipment and storage space, market needs, transport methods and disposal of surplus substances
• Look after the safe, efficient and environmentally friendly operation of equipment and test products at various stages of production to check the quality
• Oversee the construction, modification, operation and maintenance of pilot plants, processing units or processing plants
• Provide product process information to sales and marketing personnel or customers

Chemical Engineer Example Titles

• Adhesives Engineer
• Chemical Process Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer
• Project Engineer
• Pulp and Paper Engineer
• Refinery Engineer
• Waste Treatment Engineer

Chemical Engineer Related Occupations

• Biomedical Engineers
• Chemists
• Civil Engineers
• Engineering Managers
• Environmental Chemist
• Metallurgical Engineers
• Petroleum Engineers
• Process Engineers

Engineering Related Industries

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Design
• Mining
• Oil and Gas
• Pulp and Paper
• Quality Control
• Science / Research
• Telecom
• Trades / Technicians