Chemical Engineers

What the job really is

Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.

At a glance

• Sector: Architecture & Engineering
• O*NET-SOC code: 17-2041
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
• Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
• Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
• Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
• Design and plan layout of equipment.
• Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
• Perform tests and monitor performance of processes throughout stages of production to determine degree of control over variables such as temperature, density, specific gravity, and pressure.
• Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
• Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
• Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
• Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
• Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.

Tools and technology

Autodesk AutoCAD, C, C++, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Word

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Materials Engineers
• Manufacturing Engineers
• Materials Scientists
• Chemists
• Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
• Industrial Engineers
• Petroleum Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Chemical Engineers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.