• Academics

Chemical Engineers

17-2041.00

Median wages

$89,750

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.
  • 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.
  • Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Design and plan layout of equipment.
  • Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
  • Design measurement and control systems for chemical plants based on data collected in laboratory experiments and in pilot plant operations.
  • Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
  • Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
  • Direct activities of workers who operate or are engaged in constructing and improving absorption, evaporation, or electromagnetic equipment.
  • Analytical or scientific software — Minitab  ; SoftLab PHEdesign; The MathWorks MATLAB  ; Thermal Analysis Systems The Energy Analyst
  • Computer aided design CAD software  — Autodesk AutoCAD  ; CAD/CAM; CD-adapco STAR-CAD; Dassault Systemes CATIA 
  • Data base user interface and query software — Chempute Software E-Notebook; G&P Engineering Software PhysProps; Microsoft Access  ; Structured query language SQL 
  • Desktop publishing software
  • Development environment software — C ; Microsoft Visual Basic  ; National Instruments LabVIEW 
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software  — SAP 
  • Financial analysis software — Chempute Software EstPro
  • Graphics or photo imaging software — Chempute Software ChemDraw; Microsoft Visio 
  • Industrial control software — GE Fanuc Proficy Machine Edition
  • Object or component oriented development software — C++  ; Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • Office suite software — Microsoft Office
  • Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint 
  • Project management software — Microsoft Project 
  • Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel 
  • Word processing software — Microsoft Word
  • Science — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Operations Analysis — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Troubleshooting — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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