Chemical Engineers

Nature of work

Chemical engineers research, design, and develop chemical processes and equipment, oversee the operation and maintenance of industrial chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, resource, pulp and paper, and food processing plants and perform duties related to chemical quality control, environmental protection and biochemical or biotechnical engineering. Chemical engineers are employed in a wide range of manufacturing and processing industries, consulting firms, government, research and educational institutions. Chemical engineers may specialize in the products and processes of a particular industry such as pulp and paper manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, energy processing, plastics, metal extraction and refining, or adhesives and coatings production. They may also specialize in functional areas of various industries such as process control, pollution control or fermentation processes.

Job duties

Chemical engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

• Conduct economic and technical feasibility studies 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.
• Evaluate chemical process technology and equipment and determine production specifications.
• Design and test chemical processing and associated plants and equipment.
• Oversee the construction, modification, operation and maintenance of pilot plants, processing units or processing plants.
• Establish and conduct quality control programs, operating procedures and control strategies to ensure consistency and adherence to standards for raw materials, products and waste products or emissions.
• Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for the process aspects of industrial construction.
• Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers.
• May work in an administrative capacity, for example, in the development of guidelines and specifications for the handling of dangerous chemicals, environmental protection, or standards for foods, materials and consumer goods.

Sample job titles

• biochemical engineer
• biotechnical engineer
• chemical engineer
• chemical process engineer
• electrochemical engineer
• environmental chemical engineer
• petrochemical engineer
• waste treatment engineer

Skills

You should be interested in the use and application of chemicals in process industries. Good observation skills and the ability to think analytically and logically are important. You should be patient and curious, and enjoy problem-solving and carrying out experiments. The ability to communicate and cooperate with others is necessary, as engineers often work in teams. Computer skills are also very helpful.

Job requirements

• A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
• A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practice as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
• 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.

Other considerations

Workers should be prepared to keep up to date with changing technology. Some engineers work in an office most of the time, while others work in laboratories, industrial plants, or construction sites where they inspect, supervise, and solve on-site problems. Supervisory and senior positions in this group require experience. There is considerable mobility between chemical engineering specializations at the less senior levels. Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practice in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing, or management. Chemical engineers work closely with chemists and other scientists and engineers and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization.

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