Chemical Engineers

process data technology equipment chemical manufacturing process investigative design research information effective arrangement of operations

Chemical Engineer, Engineer, Process Engineer, Scientist

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
  • Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
  • Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology

  • product and service development
  • design

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • chemistry

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills

  • using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Abilities

Ideas and Logic

  • group things in different ways
  • notice when problems happen

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Verbal

  • read and understand what is written
  • listen and understand what people say

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

  • Minitab
  • The MathWorks MATLAB Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology In Demand
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about chemical engineers.