2134 Chemical engineers

2134 Chemical engineers

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.

Example Titles

adhesives engineer

biochemical and biotechnical engineer

biochemical development engineer

biochemical engineer

biotechnical engineer

biotechnology engineer

chemical engineer

chemical engineer, design and development

chemical engineer, environmental

chemical engineer, production

chemical engineer, research

chemical process engineer

chief chemical engineer

chief process engineer

coatings engineer, chemical

electrochemical engineer

engineer, adhesives

engineer, biotechnology

engineer, chemical processes

engineer, coatings

engineer, industrial hygiene

engineer, pulp and paper

engineer, refinery

engineer, waste treatment

environmental chemical engineer

environmental engineer, chemical

explosives engineer

fuels engineer

industrial hygiene engineer

industrial waste treatment engineer

liquid fuels engineer

petrochemical engineer

petroleum refinery process engineer

pipeline transport engineer

plastics engineer

polymer engineer

process control engineer, chemical

process engineer, petroleum refinery

project engineer, chemical

pulp and paper engineer

pulp and paper engineer, chemical

refinery engineer

waste treatment engineer

Main 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.

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.

Employment 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 practise 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.

Additional information

• There is considerable mobility between chemical engineering specializations at the less senior levels.
• Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.
• Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise 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.